Have more citrus than you can use? Take it to Super Citrus Saturdays.
Question:Β What should I expect of my citrus trees after the recent cold weather. Theyβre losing every leaf. Is there anything special I should do to give them a fighting chance to survive?
Answer:Β The important thing to do now is wait and see how they respond once the warm weather begins. Since the foliage has been reduced, you should cut back your watering by half. Without leaves, trees will take up less water and you do not want excess water around the roots. Also hold off on any fertilization until March 15. Once they start growing again you will see where the dead parts are, and then you can prune them off. It is best to wait to prune until after the last frost date (March 15) in case we have another freeze. The dead parts will protect underlying live parts. In the event of another freeze, it would be good to cover your citrus with frost cloth or a reasonable facsimile thereof if they are small enough to do so.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed toΒ tucsongardensage@gmail.com
