Citrus care winter is an important task to get on top of before the coming spring season. With a large percentage of citrus varieties finishing fruiting, it is the ideal time to tackle jobs such as pruning and fertilising as we head into late winter.
A quick take of top tasks
- Harvest fruit when it’s ready and still on the tree. Always prune fruit off rather than pulling it, as this prevents any branch damage. Fruit picked with a short stem intact will also last longer in the fruit bowl too.
- Feed lightly after harvest with ActivGrow Fertiliser Pellets and then apply the main fertiliser in late August with Fruit & Citrus Fertiliser. Apply gypsum at the same time for calcium.
- Add ActivGrow Soil Improver or Pellets under the canopy and out to the dripline and then mulch with Rocky Point Lucerne or Sugar Cane Mulch. When applying mulch, keep it at least 10cm away from the trunk, but cover the area to the drip line. Mulch helps suppress weeds and retain soil moisture and as it breaks down, adds valuable carbon and nutrients to the soil.
- Check for stink bugs and scale. Treat scale with eco-oil and remove bronze, orange citrus stink bugs by hand with eye protection.
- An important citrus care winter tip is to prune from August to early September.
- Frost Protection may be required in climatic zones that experience heavy frosts or temperatures below 0°c often. Wrap trees in the evening with a frost cloth or sheet and remove in the morning.
Citrus care winter planting and growing guide
This citrus care winter planting and growing guide covers everything from soil preparation and planting through to fertilising and watering requirements. Winter in most climates are an ideal time to plant fruiting trees, deciduous or evergreen. The milder weather gives these trees time to semi-establish before spring and then the heat of summer.
- Soil For new trees, improve the soil with Rocky Point ActivGrow Soil Improver and Organic Health Garden Soil. Ensure the site is well drained and, if planting in clay soil, apply liquid gypsum to improve drainage.
- Location These trees thrive in full sun.
- Planting Plant at the same depth as the bag or pot, no deeper and avoid burying the graft if present.
- Fertilising For young trees, use ActivGrow Fertiliser Pellets only until they are six months old. Strong fertilisers are not needed while the tree is establishing. Once established, fertilise four times per year using a combination of Rocky Point Fruit & Citrus Fertiliser and an organic, manure-based pelletised fertiliser with added rock dust, such as ActivGrow Soil Improver.
- Timing late winter, spring, late summer and autumn. Apply gypsum in autumn to provide calcium.
- Watering Water deeply once a week rather than little and often, as this encourages a stronger root system and improves drought resilience. Potted citrus will require more frequent watering, typically at least three times per week and often daily during summer.
Citrus in pots
If you’re growing your citrus in pots, a good citrus care winter routine will help keep trees healthy and productive throughout the year. Choose varieties grafted onto dwarfing rootstock or opt for varieties that are naturally smaller growing, like Lots of Lemons, Finger limes and Cumquats. Use Coco Pro Potting Mix for best results and feed with Fruit & Citrus controlled release fertiliser.
