where are you? perhaps freeze damage and inadequate nutrition? Please also define "large" - it is difficult to discern "large" from the pics. What is the pH of your irrigation water? How much did you feed... and with what brand/ratio fertilizer?

It is between 6 and 7 feet tall. I am in north Florida and we did have a light freeze about six weeks ago. I've used three jobes citrus fertilizer stakes. And... I am embarrassed to say I also treated it with Southern Ag Chelated Citrus Nutritional Spray. Which it did seem to perk up after I used that but that was also when it put on so many blooms. Right now I don't know what the pH of anything is. I have a at home soil test kit and am currently waiting for some samples of soil to dry out in order to test. From looking online I am hopeful that it might be a Nitrogen deficiency but with those twigs that I've pictured drying out and dying I've gotten pretty concerned. I am a new gardener so be gentle with me... I seem to be on a path of making all the newbie mistakes.

I have been watering it a few times a week. And we just had two days of heavy rain... So yes the soil is very damp. In the beginning I had considered that I had been under watering when the leaves were cupping this fall. I water with city water and soak the ground around the tree for quite a few minutes. My plan for the summer was a drip line in the very hot months.

I agree with Vladimir here.. underfed through the inability to uptake nutrients. Its really difficult to overwater an in-ground citrus tree... as long as it is not sitting in a muddy pool/quagmire, it should handle the dampness fine.

Now for the food spikes... how sure are you that the roots were at the exact location that you inserted them? I am not a fan of spikes. May I suggest the application of quickly available food (forget the organics for now) along with a consistent supply of moisture. If it were my tree, I would top-sprinkle about 2 cups of high nitrogen fertilizer around the drip-line - (I use Ammonium sulfate here out west), water thoroughly, and put it in "ICU" for 6 months. That is, giving it a weekly application of liquid fertilizer - at least a couple of gallons. I would also test the irrigation water's pH to see if it is in a normal range. [mine is 9.4 so I have to add 1 Tblsp vinegar per gal]

BTW: 6 -7 ft. is not what I would consider "large" for an orange - ( unless its on Flying Dragon rootstock). ...but its in the eye of the beholder! On Semi or Std rootstock, that tree should get to 20-25 ft!

I used to live in orange grove country in SoCal. They never watered more frequently than once a month. Water ran in ditches along the rows of trees for several days and then was shut off for the month.

Lol! I realize it will get much bigger, I hope so anyway! But for a purchased tree right out of the pot I guess it felt big to me when putting it in the ground, I am only 5'4".

Do you have a suggestion for the liquid fertilizer? Is something like this good?

Dyna-Gro DYFOL008 Foliage Pro

Excellent for Tropical Foliage Plants

A high nitrogen formula with essential minerals plants need for vigorous growth

Foliage-Pro 9-3-6 is a complete Tropical Foliage Formula

Only 1/4 tsp. per gallon

And since this formula says it's high nitrogen, should I still look for a nitrogen fertilizer to sprinkle on the ground?

dchall... a tree that "was put in the ground last fall" and what you describe - assuming mature orange trees - has absolutely no irrigation simlarity. the roots need years in the ground to develop

I alternate between Foliage Pro and Liquid Gold highN (its a "Master Nursery" product). At this point, you could use Miracle Gro too.... but do check your pH. You can put the food down, but the roots must be given the environment and chance to pull it in.... good luck and do keep us updated - - - we love pictures!

For me, weakly, weekly has worked well...

Okay I've overnighted the DynaGro Foliage Pro and some pH test strips. No where to buy that kind of thing locally unfortunately. But tomorrow I'll be able to test my water and give the poor tree a dose of fertilizer. I am hopeful now that I'll be able to post some pictures of a much healthier tree soon. Thank you soooo much for responding to me so quickly and giving me advice.