By: Kathee Mierzejewski
Citrus trees like lemons and limes are becoming more and more popular in dryer climates like Arizona. They love the warm air, but water can be an issue that will cause lime tree leaf drop.
Watering can cause a lime tree losing leaves
Watering these plants can be a little tricky. If you give the tree too much water, you will find your lime tree dropping leaves, but if you don’t water it enough, you will also find your lime tree dropping leaves. You have to find the happy medium. An inexperienced gardener might find lime tree dropping leaves.
When you have lime trees that are planted, you should water them once a week or so to prevent lime tree leaf drop. Living in a dry area, there isn’t much rainfall. Make sure you plant the tree where there is good drainage and soak the ground well. If the drainage isn’t good enough, you will also find your lime tree losing leaves.
If your lime tree is planted in a container, you should water it whenever you find the dirt only slightly damp. Don’t let it dry out completely or you’ll find your lime dropping leaves like crazy.
One thing to remember is that watering can be confusing. If your lime tree has been allowed to dry out, the leaves remain intact. However, the first time you water it after it has dried out, you will see leaves falling off lime tree plants because they are sensitive this way. Also, if you give your lime tree too much water, you will see the leaves turn yellow. Shortly thereafter, you will see your lime tree losing leaves pretty quick.
Is fertilizer causing lime tree dropping leaves?
The appearance of your lime tree will also let you know if it needs to be fertilized. If the leaves are all green and it holds its fruit, your tree doesn’t need to be fertilized. However, if you find your lime tree losing leaves, it probably can use some fertilization.
Again, fertilization can be a little tricky and if your lime tree looks healthy, you should not fertilize it because this can cause it to produce bad fruit. Not only that, you will end up with lime tree leaf drop.
Diseases that can cause leaves falling off lime tree
There are some diseases like foot rot and sooty mold that can cause lime tree leaf drop as well. These diseases can be cured, but you need to catch them quickly.
So now, if you live in a dry climate and find your lime dropping leaves, you know it could be the water situation or the fertilizer situation. Either way, you can fix the issue and enjoy your lime tree even if you live in a dry climate.
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