Grow citrus in full sun and well-drained soil, and keep it out of a regular hard freeze. Citrus is the lemon, orange, and lime group — not mock orange.
Give it full sun, sharp drainage, and a frost-safe site
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun most of the day; a south or west wall adds warmth | Deep shade that grows leaves and little fruit |
| Soil | Well-drained ground; a grass-free circle under the canopy | A lawn that stays wet, or a low clay cup |
| Frost | In-ground where hard freezes are rare; otherwise a pot you can move | An unprotected young tree in a regular freeze |
| Wind | A site with some shelter from strong wind | An open, blasting corner that shreds leaves and fruit |
Citrus fails first from wet feet and from cold it cannot shed. A lawn that needs weekly irrigation keeps the trunk wet and invites crown rot. [1] Trees fruit more in full sun than in light shade. [2] A Meyer lemon or a sweet orange such as Cara Cara wants the same sun and drain. If hard freezes are the rule, grow the tree in a pot on Citrus in Containers. [3] Before a freeze on an in-ground tree, water the soil and cover a small canopy with frost cloth that reaches the ground. Wait to cut freeze-killed wood until new growth shows what is dead. Ripe fruit before a freeze is Harvesting Citrus.
How much sun does citrus need?
Full sun most of the day. A south or west wall helps fruit sweeten in a cool-summer yard.
Can I grow citrus in the ground where it freezes?
Only if hard freezes are rare. Where they are regular, grow the tree in a pot you can move.
Water deeply, and feed nitrogen in spring
Citrus roots sit near the surface. They wilt in a dry week and rot if the trunk stays wet. Yellow older leaves often mean nitrogen is short; yellow new leaves with green veins often mean iron is locked up.
- Water deeply, then let the top few inches of soil dry before you water again. In summer heat that may be every 7 to 10 days on in-ground trees. [4]
- Keep irrigation off the trunk. A basin a foot out from the bark is for a newly planted tree — the hole steps are on Planting Citrus.
- Feed nitrogen in late winter or early spring, again in May, and maybe once in June. Stop late in the season so new shoots are not soft going into cold nights.
- Use a citrus fertilizer that includes micronutrients if new leaves yellow between the veins. Do not mound feed against the trunk.
How often should I water a citrus tree?
Deeply, then wait until the top few inches are dry. Do not water on a lawn schedule that never lets the soil dry.
Why are citrus leaves yellow?
Older yellow leaves often need nitrogen in spring. New yellow leaves with green veins often need iron or a more acid soil. Test before you stack products.
Not mock orange, Mexican orange, or lemongrass
Mock orange is Philadelphus — a deciduous shrub. Care is on How to Grow Mock Orange. Mexican orange is Choisya, on How to Grow Mexican Orange. Orange jasmine is Murraya, a hedge with citrus-scented flowers, not this fruit tree. Lemongrass is Cymbopogon. Lemon verbena and lemon cypress are other plants. Garden lime in a bag is crushed rock, not a lime tree.
Is mock orange a citrus tree?
No. Mock orange is Philadelphus. Citrus is the evergreen lemon and orange group.
If the site freezes hard most winters, grow the tree in a pot you can move — do not wrap an in-ground lemon and hope.
FAQ
What is garden lime?
A bag of crushed limestone used to raise soil pH. It is not a lime tree and it is not citrus fertilizer.
What about citrus greening?
Buy certified nursery trees. Do not mix a spray from this page.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] UC Statewide IPM Program -
https://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/cultural-tips-for-growing-citrus/ - [2] University of Florida IFAS -
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/citrus/ - [3] UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County -
https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-santa-clara-county/growing-great-citrus - [4] Mississippi State University Extension -
https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/fruit-and-nut-review-citrus
This note is part of Citrus Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors