Instructions

Orange Tree

Things You’ll Need:

• Compost Makers
• Fertilizers
• Garden Hoses
• Mulch
• Orange Trees
• Shovels

1. Purchase an orange variety adapted to your area. For example, Washington navels grow well in California, while Valencia oranges are adapted to Arizona, Texas and Florida, as well as California.
2. Plant the tree in a warm, sunny area where the soil drains well.
3. Mulch to conserve water.
4. Water the tree deeply once every 7 to 10 days in midsummer. Water less often if it rains or if the weather is cool.
5. Fertilize every four to six weeks from February to August.
6. Protect trees from frost if temperatures are forecast to drop below 28 degrees F.
7. Harvest oranges when they taste sweet. Timing will vary by variety and growing area.

Article provided by: eHow Contributing Writer

Propagation

Citrus trees are typically propagated vegetatively by growing a select variety on top of a rootstock variety. There are two reasons for doing this. The first reason is that a tree grown from a seed will not produce fruit that tastes like that of its mother or father tree. It is possible that a seeds fruit could be superior to that of its parents but more than likely it will be inferior since select varieties are products of thousands of years of breeding. Also, a seedling tree would take much longer to start producing fruit. The second reason is that certain trees are better adapted to growing in certain types of soils.

For example, a sweet orange tree would grow poorly in Arizona soil. So, rather than grow a sweet orange tree directly in the soil a grower takes a sour orange variety, which does well in this soil, and attaches a sweet orange variety to the top of it. Since the lower part of the tree ends up being the roots it is called a “rootstock”.

Rootstocks are not always content to stay as roots and will periodically attempt to grow branches. It is important to always prune off any rootstock branches that grow out below the graft line. If allowed to grow the rootstock will send branches into the canopy of the sweet orange tree and choke it out.

Pests

Citrus trees have no significant pests in Arizona.

Common Citrus Care Questions and Answers

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

This is usually caused by watering too frequently. Citrus do best when they are allowed to dry out between deep waterings. See above for a recommended watering schedule.

How can I tell when my citrus trees are thirsty?

When citrus trees are thirsty they noticeably droop and their leaves will start to curl. They will also do this somewhat during the hottest part of the day even if sufficiently watered, so it is most accurate to check them for hydration in the morning.

How can I tell the difference between fertilizer burn and sun burn?

Sun burn is most severe on parts of the tree that get the most sunshine and will occur on any part of a leaf. Fertilizer/salt burn starts at the tips of the leaves and will be more severe on the side of the tree that gets more sun, but will also be present on parts of the tree that receive less exposure.

I have leafhoppers on my tree. Should I poison them?

In Arizona leaf hoppers never seem to do significant damage. Furthermore, they are very stubborn and will be back on the tree in a matter of weeks after poisoning. Poisoning will also kill the leaf hoppers’ insect predators so the insects you are trying to kill often come back even worse. Generally speaking, there are no citrus pests in Arizona that justify using pesticides.

How long after planting will a tree start producing fruit.

Citrus trees typically take 2 years after planting to start producing regardless of the size of the tree when planted. The amount of time is also dependant on the variety as well as how healthy the tree is.

Check out the other post in this Arizona Landscaping with Fruit Trees Part 1 and Part 2.

Series article written by: Phoenix Tropicals

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/arizona-landscaping-with-fruit-trees-part-3/feed/ 1 http://dream-retreats.com/arizona-landscaping-with-fruit-trees-part-2/ http://dream-retreats.com/arizona-landscaping-with-fruit-trees-part-2/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:21:40 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=463 Yesterday we talked about landscaping in Arizona with citrus trees. Today we are going to focus on planting, watering, and fertilizer.

Avocado Tree

Planting

Dig a hole at least twice the size of the rootball. At a minimum, make the hole 2 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. Work in a 20/80 mix of compost to soil. Be sure to mix the compost and soil as thoroughly as possible. It also is a good idea to finish with the hole an inch or two recessed so that a watering basin is formed. Citrus trees will be much healthier if they can develop deep roots so it is best that they be planted in a location that has good drainage. Caliche is the most common barrier to good drainage in the Phoenix area so this barrier should be penetrated where you plant your tree. Many nurseries will offer to plant your tree for you for an extra fee. If they bring a jack hammer and break a hole through the caliche for you it is generally worth the money.

A tree will do best that is grown on rootstock suited to Arizona soils (see propagation section below for an explanation of root stocks). For this reason, plants grown locally are generally better than those imported from other states where rootstocks are chosen to suite a different type of soil. Sour Orange is the best rootstock for the lower desert.

The best time of year to plant a citrus tree is in late September. At that time the hottest part of the year is over and the tree will have the maximum amount of time to get established before next summer.

Watering frequency

Citrus trees do well on a citrus watering schedule. Proper watering is the most critical factor in the health of a citrus tree.

Watering method

Basin or flood irrigation is recommended because it helps keep the salt in our salty water from accumulating around the roots. Furthermore, deep watering will encourage the plant to develop deeper roots, making the plant tougher when the weather gets hot and dry.

Fertilizing and Growth Rate

Citrus are normally recommended to be fertilized three times a year for maximum growth in early March, late May, and middle September. Slower growing citrus need less fertilizer than more vigorous varieties. Newly planted trees should not be fertilized the first year because they are too easily burned. The recommendations on chemical citrus fertilizers bags are generally too high. To be safe one should half the rates recommended.

Slow release chemical fertilizers, and organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion can also be used, and are less likely to burn. Slow release fertilizer can be applied at the beginning of the growing season in March and once again in the middle of the growing season in early June, assuming it has an approximately 4 month release period. Organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion should be applied monthly during the growing season for maximum growth.

Any one of these fertilizers can be applied less often and at lower rates. A tree is very unlikely to starve to death. Trees can go for years without fertilizers and be relatively healthy as long as they are correctly watered. Fertilizers will just help a citrus tree grow better and produce more. On the other hand, over fertilizing a tree can cripple and kill a tree rather quickly.

Tomorrow Arizona Landscaping with Fruit Trees: Part 3 will focus on propagation, pest, and a Question and Answer section.

Did you miss Arizona Landscaping with Fruit Trees: Part 1?

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/arizona-landscaping-with-fruit-trees-part-2/feed/ 7 http://dream-retreats.com/growing-citrus-trees-in-phoenix-arizona/ http://dream-retreats.com/growing-citrus-trees-in-phoenix-arizona/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:08:25 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=456 Arizona Landscaping with Fruit Trees: Part 1

Citrus grow extremely well in the lower desert and in fact have been a commercial crop here for over 100 years. The most important aspect of growing healthy citrus is proper watering.

Fruit

Surprisingly, the weather in the Arizona desert produces some of the best tasting citrus in the world. Heat produces sugar in citrus fruits making them sweeter and cool weather produces acid making citrus more tart. The hot summers and cool winters in the desert therefore produce a much fuller flavored product than can be grown in either consistently warm climates such as Florida, or in consistently mild climates such as the California coast. California’s desert regions produce comparable quality to that of Arizona.

Another advantage that Arizona has over other regions is that citrus here can still be grown on Sour Orange root stock (see propagation section below for an explanation of root stocks), which produces some of the best tasting fruit. California and Florida have both had to ban Sour Orange because of its susceptibility to Tristeza, a citrus disease carried by a brown aphid. Fortunately, this aphid cannot survive the lower desert heat.

Citrus are categorized into the following major varieties. Within these major varieties are many cultivars. There are also some varieties that are hybrids of these varieties, such as Tangelos which are a cross between a mandarin (Tangerine) and a pummelo. The varieties below are arranged from least frost tolerant to most frost tolerant.

• Lemons and Limes
• Citrons
• Grapefruits and Pummelos
• Sweet and Sour Oranges
• Mandarins (includes Tangerines)
• Kumquats

Heat Tolerance and Sun Exposure

Citrus tolerate the summer sun well in Phoenix but will always get some sun burned leaves during the hottest weather. Varieties that grow vigorously manage to keep ahead of the sun burn better than varieties that grow more slowly. Kumquats and blood oranges suffer more from the sun than average for this reason.

The trunk and branches of citrus trees when subjected to direct sun can burn badly. In fact, if the trunk of a tree is fully exposed to sun it can kill it. Citrus naturally branch to ground and therefore protect their trunks. However, when a citrus tree is trimmed as a shade tree it exposes the trunk. This is the reason that trimmed up trees have their trunks painted white. Also, young trees should have their trunks wrapped until their branches provide shade. Furthermore, to hasten the establishment of newly planted trees the entire tree should be shaded from afternoon sun the first summer. Newly planted trees do not have a strong root system and can suffer substantially the first summer if subjected to all day sun.

Cold Tolerance

Freezing is generally not a concern in the lower desert unless one lives in an extreme micro-climate, such as a low spot that collects cold air. Most citrus will not be damaged until temperatures are as low as the middle twenties Fahrenheit for several hours. Kumquats are the exception and can handle temperatures as low as 15 degrees F. In slightly cooler climates, such as Tucson, measures should be taken to protect citrus on the coolest nights. See the variety list above to learn how citrus varieties compare to one another for frost tolerance.

Tomorrow we will be looking at Arizona Landscaping with Fruit Trees: Part 2-planting, watering, and fertilizing.

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/growing-citrus-trees-in-phoenix-arizona/feed/ 4 http://dream-retreats.com/fruit-trees-in-arizona-landscapes/ http://dream-retreats.com/fruit-trees-in-arizona-landscapes/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:36:59 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=443

Orange Tree

We are starting a new series this week where we will be talking about growing and caring for fruit trees in your Arizona backyard landscaping.

The warm Arizona sunshine and arid desert climate creates the ideal conditions for growing luscious fruit that can be enjoyed all year round.

Stayed tuned this week for tips and tricks to help you grow incredible fruit right in your own backyard. Whether you use a licensed arizona landscape contractor or you do it yourself, you and your family will benefit from the shade, beauty and fruit of Arizona grown fruit.

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/fruit-trees-in-arizona-landscapes/feed/ 0 http://dream-retreats.com/adding-citrus-trees-to-your-arizona-landscape/ http://dream-retreats.com/adding-citrus-trees-to-your-arizona-landscape/#comments Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:00:22 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=276 Citrus trees are all over the landscape from Arizona, as they have been a commercial crop here for over 100 years, but they don’t have to be solely commercial as many Arizona landscape contractors and homeowners know. They can be the perfect addition to any back or front yard landscape design. And if you are in Arizona you are lucky enough to live in one of the best climates in the US for growing citrus. With our hot summers and cooler winters, a much more full flavored fruit can be grown than in other climates where it may be consistently warm (Florida) or cool (California coast).

One very important thing you need to know is that proper watering is the key to healthy citrus in Arizona. Sinice citrus needs to dry out between waterings, the watering schedule is dependent on the time of the year. The summer requires watering once every one or two weeks and in the winter probably only once every four to six weeks. When the temperature is between those two extremes, vary your waterings accordingly. If the citrus tree has been planted in the last two weeks, water it every three days and then normally after that.

Kumquat image taken from Wikipedia

Also in Arizona, there tend to be fewer pests on citrus trees due to the climate, but we still do get leafhoppers and others of the sort. It can be dangerous to use pesticides on these pests since they poison will often kill the pest’s predators as well an leave the tree open for the pests to come back stronger. Many argue that generally, there are not pests in Arizona that will require pesticides to kill since they pesticides will do more damage then the pests.

There are such a variety of citrus trees that can be grown and planted and you should do additional research to find what type would work best in your specific climate and yard as well as what kind tastes best to you! For example, kumquats grow more slowly and therefore tend to be more susceptible to sun burn. However they are also the exception when it comes to freezing and can handle temperatures as low as 15 degress F.

What is your favorite citrus to grow in Arizona or other climates? Have any other tips for homeowners or landscape designers? Let us know in the comments!

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/adding-citrus-trees-to-your-arizona-landscape/feed/ 0 http://dream-retreats.com/drought-resistant-plants-for-arizona-landscapes/ http://dream-retreats.com/drought-resistant-plants-for-arizona-landscapes/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:34:20 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=256

Image of Geranium taken from Wikipedia

A garden is a perfect addition to any outdoor landscape, but this can be a difficult thing to manage in Arizona or any other dry, desert climate. With an average annual rainfall of only 9.2 inches in Gilbert, a garden of drought resistant plants can help bring your yard to life while not being a drain on your resources such as time and water. Drought resistant plants also hold up better to the extreme heat of Arizona summers and tend to be hardier and sturdier plants in general. While many people assume drought resistant plants mean dull, boring or even dangerous (think cactus), there are numerous plants you can find of this variety that are vibrant and colorful.

If you are looking for plants to add to your garden or anywhere around your yard, drought resistant plants are an easy way to add life and give your landscape that “professionally designed” look.

Generally, drought resistant plants should be heavily mulched, as this will help them retain water during the dry, hot Arizona summer days. Flowers are one type of plant that is not usually synonymous with drought resistance, but you would be surprised as to how many different varieties there are. Whether you are looking for flowers to help spruce up a front yard flower bed or to devote a garden entirely to them, there is no shortage from which to choose. Some varieties include:

• Dahlberg daisies
• Baby’s breath
• Geraniums
• Lupine
• Sunflowers
• Alyssum
• Zinnia
• Statice
• Lavendar

There are also different herbs that are especially drought resistant if you are looking to add a nice scent to an area of your yard. Thyme, oregano and mint are just a few varieties that are sure to be found in many gardens and landscapes across Arizona.

While these flowers and herbs are just a handful of things that can liven up an Arizona garden or landscape there are many others species and varieties of plants that could work. Have you had success gardening or designing your landscape in Arizona or another desert climate. Let us know in the comments!

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/drought-resistant-plants-for-arizona-landscapes/feed/ 0 http://dream-retreats.com/create-a-backyard-butterfly-garden/ http://dream-retreats.com/create-a-backyard-butterfly-garden/#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 15:27:55 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=199 Butterflies are beautiful. I think it would be hard to find someone that disagrees. You backyard landscape retreat can be enhanced by these flying beauties with just a little help on your part to create a landscape oasis that will attract and feed them.

Consideration will have to be taken for the two stages of the butterflies life: adult and caterpillar. Many butterfly species will drink nectar from a variety of flowering plants, but their caterpillars often are greatly limited in the number of plants on which they can feed.

Typical plants that caterpillars feed on are: herbaceous plants, such as herbs and vegetables, pine leaf milkweed, Baja fairy duster, desert senna, black dalea, passion flower, velvet mesquite, and desert hackberry.

Typical plants that the adult butterflies feed on are: brightly colored simple flowers that are not too deep and that are wide enough for good perching platforms. Some universal nectar favorites include: zinnias, marigolds, daisies, thistles, and butterfly bush.

Some native and desert adapted plants that provide nectar for butterflies include: red bird of paradise, yellow cosmos, yellow lantana, purple verbena, Mexican sunflower, dalea, catclaw acacia, and chaste tree.

Be sure to check out the Spring Butterfly Exhibit at the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens March 7 to May 31, 2009. They will have areas featuring butterfly host plants and a discovery station where you can view our scaly winged friends up close.

]]> http://dream-retreats.com/create-a-backyard-butterfly-garden/feed/ 2 http://dream-retreats.com/landscaping-around-your-swimming-pool/ http://dream-retreats.com/landscaping-around-your-swimming-pool/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 18:08:52 +0000 admin http://blog.dream-retreats.com/?p=178 Yep, its heating up around here in Arizona and alot of us our thinking about our swimming pools. We are not only thinking about jumping in, but how can we make them look a little nicer. So lets talk about landscaping around the pool with plants, patios, fencing, and lighting.

Plants Soften the edges

Plants around your pool help to soften the edges and give you some privacy. The are many options for plants, and while you are out shopping here are a couple of points to remember.

• Look for plants that are easy to maintain. The best options are broad leaf evergreens or other desert plants.
• You are looking for a nice relaxing time in the pool, not an extra yard chore of cleaning out all the extra leaves out of the pool, so look for plants without a lot of leaves.
• Fruit Trees look good but unless you plan on making extra honey from all the bees flying around, stay away.

Patios

Patios can be a great extension of your home and be a great transition into your outdoor landscape living area. There are several patio materials that can be used such as concrete, artistic pavers, flagstone and other rock, or brick. Remember, the area around the pool is going to get wet, so the material used should has a texture to it to keep those feet planted on it and not sliding around. Jump over to our outdoor patio landscape gallery to view some examples.

Privacy and Security with Fencing

Fencing is a great way to keep your pool secluded from neighbors and others. It is also a must when you have small children around.

There are several types of fencing out there. A solid wooden fence will always add warmth and texture as well as protection from wind and prying eyes. If privacy is not a main concern, you may prefer a more open type of fence such as lattice-style, or chain-link fencing.

Remember that with a pool, there is always that chance of someone getting in that should not be in. So, with small children, try to keep the fence 3 1/2 to 4ft high, with gates in strategic places.

Lighting

Landscape lighting helps to soften your landscape retreat at night and provides landscape highlighting of plants, decorative elements, and walkways. Think of landscaping lighting as adding the candles to that romantic dinner for two. Sure your still having dinner without them, but think how much more romantic it is with them. Contact Us to find out how we can improve the “mood” of your landscape with outdoor lighting.

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