My satusma lost all of its leaves and dropped most of its fruit. Some branches are dying back, but the major ones are still green and alive.

Here's a close up of one of the branches. Some appear to have leaf buds emerging, but I am not completely sure. Do you think the tree will survive?

My Meyer lemon appears to have a nutrient deficiency of some kind. Should I add Epsom salt, chelated iron, or more fertilizer?Also, the top of the tree appears to have gotten sun damage. The bark is turning brown, and is starting to split and excrete sap. I am unsure if the sap coming out is due to the sunburn, gummosis, or a combination of both. Should I spray the the area with copper fungicide, remove the damaged wood, or just wait for now?

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Most of your issues usually start at the root zone. Have you checked to see how the roots are before you start doing this and that?

It's important that the roots are healthy before you start doing things. You need to make sure the roots will do the work of taking up nutrients or they will just die off even further.

What kind of soil mix is it in? Have you ever let it dry out too much? Has that tree ever gone to wilt? That is extremely hot sun. Porcelain pots like that can actually cook roots because it gets very hot.

If it were mine, I would take it out from full sun, living where you are I would use a white plastic pot, or clay. I would also make sure the mix stays moist but not wet or compacted. I would also cut off the dead branches and wait for new growth before fertilizing until I am sure the roots are doing their job.

I think I over watered them, and the roots seem to be rotting. I think I need to cut down on water. The pots are mostly in the shade now, so I think the root temperature should be okay.

In your kind of heat, it's easy for the roots to just give up and shut down and the mix to just stay wet too long, or course unless the pot gets so hot that the roots are making the soil dry out, but the heat is. Over heated roots are never good and that is why many in your climate would rather grow them under trees or in partial shade until the temps drop a bit. A good white container that is plastic or clay pots will help decrease the root zone temps when in direct sun too. Now is not the time to fertilize, you can bet on that if there is root damage.

Mike

My Meyer lemon is putting out new shoots, and the roots on it seem better than the satsuma. Our sun is so intense here in the summer, that the citrus will now grow in the shade of a larger tree.

Does the container have holes in the bottom?

Lots of holes ?

Steve

It has one big hole in the bottom. I can't drill holes in the clay, and I haven't watered in 4 days to help the root rot heal.

containertime, you can drill holes in clay, but you have to do it carefully with water. The best thing to do is put the tree in a plastic pot and add extra holes in it. I have all my trees in plastic pots and added extra 1/4" holes for better drainage.

This picture did't post in my above entry.

Steve