Citrus is in season; it's beautiful, fragrant and a delicious addition to meals! Below we share some helpful tips on caring for your citrus in these winter months.

Fertilizing

Use Master Nursery Master Bloom (0-10-10) or EB Stone Organic Ultra Bloom once a month from October through January to improve fruit production, taste of the fruit and overall health of the tree.

Pruning

Generally citrus need very little or no pruning and it is best not to prune at all in the winter. If you need to prune your citrus for shape or size, wait until after mid-March.

Protection from Frost

Frost susceptibility varies by variety and maturity (for example, limes are the most susceptible to frost damage). In general, established plants can withstand short exposure to freezing temperatures with no damage. However, severe or prolonged frost will damage most varieties. Water-stressed plants are always more susceptible to frosts, so water deeply about every two weeks if it hasn’t rained. When freezing temperatures are predicted, protect your citrus using one or all of the following methods:

Cover citrus with tented sheets of frost cloth (tented so the frost cloth is not touching the leaves); uncover during the day.
String Christmas lights (not LED) under and around the plant, and turn on at night.
Spray with an anti-transpirant spray such as Cloud Cover or Bonide Wilt Stop.
Move potted citrus under an awning, patio cover or indoors.