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Message
Satsuma Tree Help Needed
Posted on 2/17/22 at 4:56 pm
Posted on 2/17/22 at 4:56 pm
Zone 9
Louisiana Citrus Zone 1 here.
I've got a 3 year old satsuma tree that I'm beginning to worry about. Ive noticed recently it doesn't seem to look as healthy as it once did. I haven't changed up anything as far as watering and I've protected it during the recent freeze with some heat lights and blankets. I'm linking an album with a bunch of pictures of the tree that I took today and about a week ago.
I've got leaves that are starting to yellow and will fall off the branch with the slightest touch. During Hurricane Ida it received a little bit of damage to some of the branches from the neighbor's fence, but all in all it came away unscathed. I just don't understand what's going on with this tree to make it start shedding leaves and not being as full as it once was compared to a year ago.
LINK
There's the link to the album with some pictures, and I can answer any questions that may come up to help me pinpoint the potential problem with this tree.
Thanks!!!
Louisiana Citrus Zone 1 here.
I've got a 3 year old satsuma tree that I'm beginning to worry about. Ive noticed recently it doesn't seem to look as healthy as it once did. I haven't changed up anything as far as watering and I've protected it during the recent freeze with some heat lights and blankets. I'm linking an album with a bunch of pictures of the tree that I took today and about a week ago.
I've got leaves that are starting to yellow and will fall off the branch with the slightest touch. During Hurricane Ida it received a little bit of damage to some of the branches from the neighbor's fence, but all in all it came away unscathed. I just don't understand what's going on with this tree to make it start shedding leaves and not being as full as it once was compared to a year ago.
LINK
There's the link to the album with some pictures, and I can answer any questions that may come up to help me pinpoint the potential problem with this tree.
Thanks!!!
6
Posted on 2/17/22 at 5:28 pm to Black
Following... more so for the curled up leaves at the end of the branches than any yellowing or dropping of leaves.
Posted on 2/17/22 at 5:48 pm to Black
Last years freeze made mine do that too but it bloomed and made fruit this year
I would just continue what your doing and not worry about till next year as long as you still have green in your branches
I would just continue what your doing and not worry about till next year as long as you still have green in your branches
This post was edited on 2/17/22 at 5:50 pm
Posted on 2/17/22 at 6:39 pm to Black
I can’t pinpoint your problem but I’ll give you my thoughts
1. Of lease concern, is curling, yellowing and dropping of the leaves. That’s related to mid 20s temps we had recently. My 3 and 4 year satsumas, Meyer lemon are exhibiting the same and I know the trees are fine. I know you covered the trees but the trees still were exposed to some freeze related stress. This is a normal citrus tree response to cold stress.
2. Of greater concern is the damaged bark on limbs. I suspect that very well may have been related to freeze damage from last Feb’s 18 degree weather. Not much you can do about that - let it go, see what happens and if necessary those limbs might have to be removed and new limbs that grow from the main trunk above the graft union re-trained to replace them.
3. Lastly, and perhaps of greatest concern, and I hope I’m wrong on this, I see some sand or is it dirt underneath the tree. Is this a low area that doesn’t drain well (I do see what appears to the a large drain grate nearby)? When you planted the tree did you elevate the root ball several inches above lawn grade? That is important in poorly draining clay soil. Just a few inches height above grade can make a large difference in health and growth of a fruit tree like citrus. An unhealthily tree is going to be more susceptible to cold damage. Anyway, I hope this isn’t the case - hard to tell from the photos.
1. Of lease concern, is curling, yellowing and dropping of the leaves. That’s related to mid 20s temps we had recently. My 3 and 4 year satsumas, Meyer lemon are exhibiting the same and I know the trees are fine. I know you covered the trees but the trees still were exposed to some freeze related stress. This is a normal citrus tree response to cold stress.
2. Of greater concern is the damaged bark on limbs. I suspect that very well may have been related to freeze damage from last Feb’s 18 degree weather. Not much you can do about that - let it go, see what happens and if necessary those limbs might have to be removed and new limbs that grow from the main trunk above the graft union re-trained to replace them.
3. Lastly, and perhaps of greatest concern, and I hope I’m wrong on this, I see some sand or is it dirt underneath the tree. Is this a low area that doesn’t drain well (I do see what appears to the a large drain grate nearby)? When you planted the tree did you elevate the root ball several inches above lawn grade? That is important in poorly draining clay soil. Just a few inches height above grade can make a large difference in health and growth of a fruit tree like citrus. An unhealthily tree is going to be more susceptible to cold damage. Anyway, I hope this isn’t the case - hard to tell from the photos.
This post was edited on 2/19/22 at 8:32 am
Posted on 2/17/22 at 8:57 pm to CrawDude
It's not sand, just normal, dry soil. And the water drains away from the tree towards that drain. What fertilizing regime would you suggest?
Posted on 2/17/22 at 10:29 pm to Black
Hell I saw some at Costco today.
Posted on 2/17/22 at 11:19 pm to Black
quote:
It's not sand, just normal, dry soil. And the water drains away from the tree towards that drain. What fertilizing regime would you suggest?
Good
I follow the fertilization guidelines in this manual. Louisiana Home Citrus Production, see page 6.
Remove the grass around the base of tree out to edge of the canopy, mulch (pine straw, leaves, whatever you prefer), fertilize according to the guideline in the manual.
Don’t over water. 1 inch of water once per week, rain will provide most of that, just water during dry periods. Sometimes I’ll add a little magnesium sulfate (epsom salt), 1 tbsp in a gallon of water, if leaves are showing a tinge of yellow. Citrus responds well to magnesium supplements.
This post was edited on 2/18/22 at 9:20 am
Posted on 2/18/22 at 10:26 am to Black
What Crawdude said. I lost several of my citrus trees last year due to Feb. freeze. One thing I have learned over the years is don't waste time with a damaged citrus tree. Plant a new one.
Posted on 2/20/22 at 3:35 pm to Black
Buy some ironite and put some around the base. It doesnt take much to green it up.
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