can you take pictures of it.

It is about 2.5 feet high and 1.5 feet wide. I will take a photo later, but I didn't want to turn this thread into an emergency clinic for one plant. I am trying to understand a more general rule about container sizing that I could apply to any citrus of any size.

Trees are always much better in ground than in pots. Do you know the rootstock. Transplanting it into a raised mound 5 foot diameter 1,5 feet tall would work much better than a pot. It would also be much less work than a container citrus tree as well as much more productive.

The garden is very small. I don't have the five feet to spare. In a large garden where there was a small orchard I would pursue that approach. I was viewing this plant as more decorative and would not mind limiting its growth and treating it as a kind of bonsai in a container.

I think it would be very hard for a properly sized container with fir bark to do less well than compacted clay soil. The clay soil does not drain and the roots have a hard time growing into that. The bark drains brilliantly well, and there are published plant growth tests showing that plants grow dramatically larger in bark than in soil in the ground. I understand your point on trees, particularly large trees. No one is going to succeed growing a redwood tree in a container.

Westes: lookup redwood bonsai tree - I think you will be surprised. Traditionally in bonsai, plants are first field grown to become large quickly. Then they are transferred to containers and carefully trained (root and shoot pruning) to adapt to a container.

Given proper conditions plants will most certainly grow much larger in ground than in containers. Initially, it may seem container grown plants grow fast but eventually the pot size will limit it. As long as the ground is not prone to prolonged saturation or dry condition it is better. For example, the root zone temperature is far more stable in the ground than in containers. Container temperature fluctuates a lot and not great for roots.

In general, the root mass will be similar to shoot mass. I would say start with a 3-5 gallon container for your plant. As the plant grows you will have to up size the pot if you intend to keep it growing bigger.

@myermike can you explain that in more detail? Why would a fast draining soil allow you to not oversize the container? I would have thought in 511 that the roots enjoy much faster and wider growth, so the container would need to be even larger....

Exactly what you just said is what I meant...)

The larger the pot size the better and you don't have to worry about it using the 5.1.1 mix. Good work.

Mike meant that you can use over-sized containers if using a fast draining mix. If the mix does not drain fast then an over-sized container will be detrimental to the roots.

Posted the same time as you Mike

In my experience, if you go up dramatically in pot size, the tree can take a while to put on new growth. My trees tend to enjoy being in only slightly larger pots. Which, of course, requires reporting more frequently.

Here is my poor citrus. The whole top part of the plant was removed today. It did not get enough water last summer and that part died. The plant is attempting a dramatic comeback with growth below the dead area.

Do you know if your tree is grafted?

This may be helpful: https://rootmaker.com/sites/default/files/pdf/4inchRuleWeb.pdf

Since you have a heavy soil, you will have to be a bit more careful. When you lift it out support the bottom of the root ball well. I usually shove a burlap bag under and use it to lift plants out. However, this is small enough that you do not need a huge root ball. Otherwise the weight of the soil may tear apart the fibrous/thinner roots. Letting it dry out a bit also helps to reduce the weight. Choose a cool/cloudy day to do it. Mornings/evenings are best.

I've placed numerous smaller trees in 1/2 wine barrels with the 5.1.1 or 3.1.1 mix and have never had any problem and the tress have grown vigorously.

@Alanna no idea as it was put in by a landscaper. It would not surprise me.

I think the reason Alanna asked if it is grafted is because the lower branches could be below the graft line. You should be able to notice the graft line if you inspect it carefully. It is entirely possible that the part that died was above the graft line. And the new growth could just from the root stock. I am no expert in citrus root stocks so others may be able to help here. I cannot tell from the leaves what root stock it could be. Trifoliate root stocks are easy to distinguish.

@tropicofcancer that sounds right. The photo below shows four branches that are dead, and everything below that is alive. The lighter branch on the right is just in the sun. The red up arrows mark the four dead branches.

Since you are in the SF Bay area, your citrus should do very well in the ground once it gets established. Container growing is far more a hassle; certainly not easier! Unless its dead or you want to move it to a different location - leave it!

First thing you need to determine is if you have any lemon (desired) scion left. The growing part may or many not be rootstock. It is very difficult to tell. Scratch and sniff please. Volk rootstock does have a lemony scent. Please post more pictures of the individual leaves, and certainly take a close look to see if they are all the same from various branches / shoots - or different. I think the center two have the best chance of being the desired scion.

If you determine that the scion re-sprouted from the graft line (which does happen) and keep the tree, you will need to water it properly. Water it at the drip line as a preference, but not directly (only) at the trunk. PLEASE move that sprinkler head away from the trunk and do not let it splash the trunk every time its on. [I have a friend that thinks I am nuts for moving his stream and drip heads away from the trunk every time I walk through his yard... he always moved them back up against the trunk. He is replacing dead trees right now. ]

@molewacker Both of the green stems at the base - shown in the original photo - smell lemony when scratched.

I can try to keep it in the ground and change the irrigation. What should I use for fertilizer?

I understand containers are more work, but nothing grows healthier roots and plants than bark soils. Since I wanted this plant to be ornamental and not a large tree, it seemed like a good match. The other thing I like about a bark planting is I can determine exactly how much water is distributed in the soil by a simple wood skewer, which is easy to insert and remove. Most of the time I can just stick my finger in four inches and quickly determine that the roots are happy. That stops overwatering and underwatering. I feel really clueless about the state of my hard compacted clay soil, two feet down from the surface. A container plant is one where I feel like I have a better understanding of the conditions of the root system, with very little work.

If you are more comfortable growing in a container, then do it. A lemon will get HUGE in the ground e.g. my Santa Teresa on Volk went from 4 ft. to 20 ft. in 4 years. Maybe a citrus is not the correct choice as few are ornamental.. and I certainly would not consider lemons ornamental (unless they are a large mature tree in a large landscape).

As far as fertilizer, I needed size to fit the landscape privacy needs after ripping out 30 100+ft redwoods. I started with frequent low doses of Ammonium sulfate. As the desired size was attained / being attained, I am and have transitioned to a more standard citrus fertilizer such as Gro-Power or Vigoro (and PalmPlus). [that is a whole other post as I feed 60 citrus].

I think you need to confirm what you are growing. I've taken a few pics of my various lemons.. maybe these can help you figure out of you have rootstock or the lemon.. good luck!

Volk

Cuban Shaddock

Cuban Shaddock

Meyer

Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa

Lisbon 8A

@molewacker I will get a photo of the leaf tomorrow.

I am curious why you chose to rip out so many redwood trees. I was imagining 20 foot high rhododendrons in the canopy of those trees for privacy. That would be a grand garden.

After many years of watching the redwoods grow and make me ever more claustrophobic, a very smart arborist asked me what i wanted.... redwoods or landscape - "you cannot have both" .

By that time the roots had caused over $40k of damage. It was an easy decision.

Redwoods are nice in a forest and as a deck. They are NOT appropriate for any residential area. They are junk trees in a landscape that are stupidly planted for quick privacy without regard to long term size ( 150 to 300 ft) and certainly without regard to neighbors.

I have many 20 ft and taller red tipped photinia that are providing privacy and the citrus is rapidly adding to the privacy.

If you have redwoods get rid of them now. Your neighbors will like you better. !

I have a small property with redwoods on neighbor properties that are digging up the patio and causing havoc. I might have to invest in a trench that allows me to sever the redwood roots on my property. If you have the amount of land that these trees take, however, they are spectacular.

The nicest thing i can say is that most redwood owners are clueless. Cut and remove what is on your property. Do what you have to do. Try talking to the neighbors. But, that will likely be futile.

One of my tallest trees was next to a school bus stop. When grinding the stump, it was found that half was rotted.... and maybe a year away from falling. Either on children or the house.

Here is a photo of the leaves on my plant:

looks short on nitrogen but otherwise it looks good.

Steve

@poncirusguy the question I think others wanted to be answered is what variety of citrus do I have. I don't know.

I can't tell what kind it is either. If you still wish to container it.

New Zealand lemonade on US897 roots in a 5 gallon bucket

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Hope this helps if you decide to pot your tree.

Steve

5 foot diameter mound 1.5 feet tall with Montmorency sour cherry

@poncirusguy I love the Meiwa Kumquat in the ornate concrete pot. That's a classic Italian garden look and is exactly what I want. The Italian garden look is really formal and somehow citrus trees lightens it up a little.

westes California SF Bay

Thanks for the kind words. I am really happy with my ornate concrete pot. It is made of plastic. My boss let me have it when he let me go. He gave me 3 of them each with a hardy Chicago fig tree. all my other trees are in pots that look like.

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Steve