Gardening Tips for Orange Trees

Planting Location

• Choose a location in full sunlight for the orange tree. Provide afternoon shade cover for newly planted orange trees in locations with excessively hot summers. Avoid planting the tree in heavy clay or the tree will produce slow growth. Place the tree on the south side of the house to offer it cold protection. The orange tree can withstand a temperature drop to the low 20s but may suffer foliage damage or stem die back. Space the tree approximately 12 feet away from structures, fences or other trees. Commercial orchards usually space orange trees 25 feet apart.
  
  

Sun and Weed Protection

• Avoid trimming the lower branches of the citrus tree in areas that suffer excessive summertime heat and sun. The tree's trunk may suffer sun scald. Wrap the trunk of a young tree until it produces ample branches. If an older tree has sustained pruning, consider painting its trunk white with latex paint to protect it from the sun. Remove all weeds or grass from around the base of the citrus tree so it does not have to compete for water or valuable nutrients. Avoid using mulches around the orange tree or it may suffer from foot rot.
  
  

Establishing and Fertilizing

• Plant the orange tree in the spring or fall months. A citrus tree planted in the fall will have time to establish its root system before spring. Avoid fertilizing the orange tree in the spring until it shows signs of new growth. Apply ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) three or four times during the growing season to the newly planted orange tree. Use 1 cup for the first year; increase the fertilizer to 2 cups during the tree's second year. Sprinkle the fertilizer onto the soil around the tree and thoroughly water it into the soil.
  
  

Care

• Orange trees usually begin to bear fruit at three years of age. Irrigate the orange tree by flooding its root system deeply once every week or two for 30 minutes to one hour. Avoid pruning the orange tree. Remove root suckers that may sprout up around the tree's base or root system. Remove any deadwood or diseased wood. When harvesting the orange fruit from the tree, pull it gently off by hand. Avoid clipping the fruit from the tree. Watch the orange tree closely for any pests, such as aphids, mealy bugs, scales or mites. At the first indication of infestation, promptly treat.