Citrus Greening Disease

UF IFAS EDIS info

I am so sorry. To prevent infection of other citrus in your area, you should remove the tree as soon as possible - definitely before it blooms (if at all). I lost many of mine, too. So sad.

Carol in Jacksonville

Hi Carol, do you think I have this nasty disease? Also do Amy of you have good resources on growing citrus us here? In particular tangelos.

Are you treating the tree ring with round up?

It may have greening but I don't think that is what is causing your problems. Greening works slowly. Usually you see died back and mottled leaves, slow growth. Massive leaf drop doesn't happen.

Yes, sadly, I do think you have this disease. Your tree has all of the tell-tale signs of Citrus Greening and should be removed as soon as possible because infected trees are the source of further infection to healthy ones in your area. It is a responsibility of all citrus growers to other citrus growers to remove infected trees as soon as possible.

In my opinion, the best plant/garden/agriculture resource available to Floridians is the University of Florida (UF) IFAS Extension EDIS (Electronic Data Information Source). It has over 4,000 publications. Here is a link:

UF IFAS Extension - EDIS

I have now lost three citrus trees in my backyard and two incredible ones in my mother's back yard. I have not replanted citrus after these losses as after 3-5 years, we repeat the process. I have great hope to replant one day!

You can read the sad saga of many Florida citrus growers in these previous threads from this forum. :(

Carol in Jacksonville

I don't put round up anywhere near the tree

I'm gonna try an aggressive watering on it so see if I can turn it around. 30 mins a day on a timed hose. This will be my last resort then it may have to come out. I am concerned about the citrus greening for sure. It's just been a decline over the past year since I initially planted it. It never seemed to take off no matter what fertilizing, nutritional spray or watering I did. It was always battling to keep leaves and never really was "green" it always seemed to stay yellow. I thought it was nitrogen deprived and the fact that I had moderately sandy spoil I would just need more nutrients and water. Any more advice is welcome.

Hi Steve,

Yellow leaves on most plants are a sign of too much watering. Brown, crunchy leaves an most plants are a sign of too little water (plant being too dry). However, on citrus, yellow leaves, dropping of leaves, and bare branches are often a sign of citrus greening disease. Remember, citrus are not deciduous. It is not normal for citrus to ever lose their leaves in winter, and especially not in spring.

If your tree puts out a new, full flush of leaves, then I'm wrong and it's a keeper. But if you don't get a good response at this time of year - when everything is bursting forth with new growth - then it may be time to remove it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Carol

You are over watering give it a micro nutrient and pick the fruit off so the tree can use it's energy to grow.

What micro nutrient Would you recommend?

Fruit tree and citrus from southern agg

ok so i had the same thing the roots need to be above ground so they get oxygen make sure there is no mulch or anything by the stem or the roots