Software
Houzz Logo Print
calb_gardner

Navel orange tree and age/ fruit

9 years ago

Hello I haven't posted in a while but I would like some advice I have a beautiful dwarf Navel orange tree that was in the yard when we bought the house it is approximately 20 years old. the last three years fruit production has decreased dramatically I was wondering if this was due to the age of the tree... it looks healthy and had quite a few flowers the one thing we have noticed is there have not been as many bees in our yard as in the past but that said my lime tree has a plethora of limes on it ...



Comments (13)

  • 9 years ago

    I know citrus can keep producing well past 20 years old. Has anything changed with it in the last 3 years? More/less fertilizer or water?

  • 9 years ago

    No. Just the lack of bees

  • 9 years ago

    You could try attracting mason bees to your yard. Their sole purpose is pollination. I have two mason bee houses mounted under an eve of the house. The houses should face SE. Google mason bees for some info. Maybe you can mount a bee house in the tree!!

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    One way I like to attract bees is to plant borage. It regrows every year from the seeds from last year so it's basically a permanent plant in my yard. They are very easy to control and grow, and they attract tons of bees. If you give them lots of water, they get really big so keep that in mind (I never water mine to keep them fairly small). Another benefit is you can eat borage. It tastes a little like cucumber.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I love borage, it's so pretty. How does it do in a container andy, do you know?

  • 9 years ago

    I've actually never tried it in containers. I would imagine it would work pretty well and the sides of the container would probably keep it from getting too big.

    I had one that got a lot of water get about 5 feet tall and wide, and the middle stem was about 8 inches in diameter, so they can get pretty huge if you let them. The stems are hollow so they are easy to cut down and decompose fast so they go great in a compost pile.

  • 9 years ago

    I have tons of other options to attract the bees but I will look into building a mason house

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Those are flax and penstemon, I believe? I've grown both and neither compared even a little to the bee bringing power of Borage :)

    Sometimes I go out into my yard and it sounds like a bee hive moved in because of all the buzzing near my borage plants.

  • 9 years ago

    Ohhhhh well then I'll be planting some thanx.

  • 9 years ago

    I don't see any bees on my penstemon plants, I have 2. Hummers love it but for some reason the bees are not too impressed.

    I have an article about attracting bees. Here:

    Choose blue, purple
    and yellow:
    Bees find blue, purple and yellow flowers most appealing. Flat or shallow blossoms, such as daisies, zinnias, asters and Queen
    Anne's lace, will attract the largest variety of bees. Long-tongued bees will
    be attracted to plants in the mint family, such as nepeta, salvia, oregano,
    mint and lavender. Long-tongued bumblebees are attracted to flowers with hidden
    nectar spurs, such as larkspur, monkshood, monarda, columbine and snapdragons.

    - - -

    Be careful of mint, it can get out of hand. Keep it in containers to control the invasiveness. Good luck! and keep us posted.

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks guys My yard is usually buzzing with activity especially around the red fairy duster we have to take a wide berth because it is literally covered in bees I hope I can attract more with planting the different varieties and putting a mason house in the trees.

  • 9 years ago

    What is fertilizing and watering schedule? Citrus are HEAVY feeders.

    Are you getting lots of fruit set but a lot of early drop? (some is normal)

    Fewer blossoms than previously?

    If you have been elsewhere in the yard, they will find the orange tree.

  • 9 years ago

    I water once a week slow and deep fertilize with citrus fertilizer and twice a year with my own compost same amount of blossoms but hardly any set and there have been Practically no bees in my yard at all.

Sponsored