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Protecting Citrus From Freeze
Posted on 1/10/16 at 12:43 am
Posted on 1/10/16 at 12:43 am
Since it is dropping into the 20s on the Northshore tomorrow night, I need to do something to protect my citrus trees (2 satsuma, 2 meyer lemon, 2 naval orange). They are all 3 yr old trees, still under 4' tall. What should I do? Does a simple sheet over the entire tree work?
Posted on 1/10/16 at 1:51 am to TigerTatorTots
Put a water sprinkler on them, that will protect them down to 22 for about 12 hrs.
Posted on 1/10/16 at 3:39 am to Boston911
Water is your friend. By freezing them with water, that helps insulate them.
Posted on 1/10/16 at 7:42 am to TigerTatorTots
It's the trunk that's most important, losing the ends of a few branches isn't a big deal. A non-LED work light or a string of old Christmas lights around the trunk should be fine if they are close enough to an outlet for an extension cord. It's what we've used for 40+ years.
Posted on 1/10/16 at 8:20 am to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
quote:
CajunAlum Tiger Fan
never thought about that, put a sheet over it too or just the lights?
Posted on 1/10/16 at 8:22 am to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/15/21 at 8:26 pm
Posted on 1/10/16 at 8:54 am to Theboot32
My family has had citrus as long as I've been alive (I also have satsuma, Louisiana sweet, navel, and Meyer lemon in Broussard) and we haven't covered them. You might lose the ends of all the branches, but it doesn't hurt the tree permanently. I saved all of mine a few years ago when it was below 20 for a couple of days in a row with old school big bulb outdoor Christmas lights wrapped tightly on the first couple feet of trunk without any cover (mine are too big to cover) . The lemon took the most damage, losing half of its branches, but 2 seasons later it was back to normal.
If the trunk freezes, it will split and that's what kills it.
Other methods include filling a garbage bag with water and wrapping the trunk or even piling up mulch, wrapped in a sheet for a mild, short freeze.
You should be fine.
If the trunk freezes, it will split and that's what kills it.
Other methods include filling a garbage bag with water and wrapping the trunk or even piling up mulch, wrapped in a sheet for a mild, short freeze.
You should be fine.
Posted on 1/10/16 at 9:20 am to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
Unfortunately, I don't have Christmas lights to wrap the trunk nor enough outlets to do 6 of them. Looks like I'll give them a good soaking and cover with a sheet
Posted on 1/10/16 at 9:32 am to TigerTatorTots
I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm not doing anything to mine this week. I don't think is getting that cold.
Posted on 1/10/16 at 11:50 am to TigerTatorTots
Smudge pots used to work just fine, but hey are illegal now.
Posted on 1/10/16 at 12:53 pm to TigerTatorTots
I would personally throw a sheet or tarp over it and leave a light on at the base...
Posted on 1/10/16 at 4:33 pm to TigerTatorTots
We raise citrus here in North Louisiana. Cover the plants with pine straw during the day. You can leave it until the weather gets milder. Protecting the trunk is the key, especially for young trees. Some new varieties like Orange Frost can handle 15 degrees with no protection.
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