HELP NATURE TOUCH FARMS!!!! MY LEMON TREE LEAVES ARE YELLOW…. WHAT CAN I DO?

4 min readJun 8, 2023

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Reasons Why Lemon Tree Leaves Turning Yellow

How to fix yellow leaves on a lemon tree

Are you growing more yellow leaves than yellow lemons?

As you anticipate the joy of plucking that homegrown lemon it’s disappointing to discover your tree has more yellow leaves than yellow lemons. What’s going on? Here are the main reasons lemons develop yellow leaves and how to get them back to and keep them green and lush.

REASONS YOUR LEMON TREE LEAVES ARE TURNING YELLOW

Lack of adequate plant nutrients can cause yellowing of your citrus plants

1. NOT ENOUGH FERTILIZER

Much like teenagers, lemons burn through lots of nutrients. When the tree runs out of nutrients its older leaves may become yellow. Apply a complete citrus fertilizer twice a year aiming for mid summer and late winter.

Water well before and after applying fertilizer. Spread the fertilizer over the soil around the tree. Follow the application rates suggested on the container.

Please find out more information about proper fertilization of your citrus tree at the website — https://www.wikihow.com/Fertilize-a-Citrus-Tree

Iron deficiency can also be one of the many factors that causes leaf yellowing in citrus plants

2. NOT ENOUGH IRON

A lack of iron can cause lemon leaves to yellow. As a quick fix water the tree with iron chelates, which is a form of soluble iron available from garden center or hardware stores.

Ensure your citrus plant gets adequate watering. Over watering can also create challenges as well

3. NOT ENOUGH WATER

Lemon trees need regular and deep watering that reaches the root system. When plants dry out they don’t get enough nutrients. Lack of water can be a major problem for potted lemon trees.

After watering, check that the water has soaked into the soil and not simply drained away leaving the roots dry. If the soil below the surface is still dry, apply a soil wetting agent to encourage the soil or potting mix to better absorb water and water again.

Many pests & diseases can affect your citrus plants. It is best to have a preventative treatment program, instead of waiting until your citrus plant becomes infected. “Prevention is better than cure”

4. COMMON LEMON TREE PESTS

Citrus bugs, scale and aphids can affect the health of the lemon and its leaves. Seeing ants along the stems is a sign that the tree has pests. Aphids appear on new growth and can be squashed or hosed off. Scale appears on stems or backs of leaves.

Apply horticultural spray oil (follow the instructions on the container). Adult citrus bugs are green and with care can be knocked from the tree into a container of soapy water. Wear sunglasses when doing this as these pests squirt a toxic liquid that can burn eyes. Spraying with horticultural oil in winter reduces pest numbers. Without the pests, the ants too should disappear.

Protect your citrus trees from cold temperatures

5. TOO COLD

Lemon trees prefer a warm subtropical climate, but grow in cooler climates if sheltered from cold winds and cold winter conditions. When the tree is cold its roots are unable to absorb enough nutrients to keep the leaves green so they turn yellow.

Shelter lemons from cold winds with plastic, a screen or a hedge. Keep the plant watered through winter but don’t apply fertilizer until spring when temperatures warm and the tree shows signs of new growth.

Potted citrus tress can become root bound after a couple of years

6. ROOT BOUND

Lemons that are grown in containers may outgrow the space in one to two years, leaving the plant unable to take up enough water and nutrients to thrive.

To provide more space, repot the lemon into a slightly larger container with fresh potting mix. Select a good quality potting mix and work in about 10 per cent by volume of compost. For long-term success, grow a dwarf lemon in a large container.

Don’t allow the roots of your citrus trees to be engulfed with weeds. This robs them of nutrients & increases the chances of pest and diseases

7. ENGULFED IN WEEDS

Lemons don’t like sharing. To keep trees green, leafy and productive remove all competing weeds and grass from under and around a lemon. Replace the weeds with a 2–5cm (1–2 inches) layer of coarse organic mulch mixed with aged manure. Keep mulch away from the tree trunk.

CONCLUSION

As you can see yellow leaves on your lemon plant, or basically any other citrus tree is not easy to analyze. There are more than one factor which can be causing the yellowing of the leaves.

First, if in doubt, please do a soil test to decipher if it is a nutrient or soil pH challenge.

Contact your Plant Care Professional for assistance.

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