Lemon tree in pot

Hi everyone,

just wondering if anyone has any tips on how I can take care of my lemon tree. No lemons this year, it has grown really well.
I cover it up in the winter but should I cut it back?

 

Looks healthy enough, you must be doing something right.

I wouldn't cut it back, unless you just want to tip a couple of shoots to make it more bushy.

You say you cover it in winter, are you in a very mild area, only I think I'd lose all the leaves on mine in a winter like last year.

Just another observation, the leaves on a lower branch look bigger and different from the higher up ones, I'm just wondering if its a bit of the rootstock growing out from under the graft.

 

I wouldn't It's never too soon to shape them up and better to do it by pinching out young shoot tips than pruning older wood. Reducing those two high shoots by half will give balance and encourage more growth lower down.
It looks beautifully healthy so the only other advice I'd offer is to raise the pot up on bricks, stones or 'feet' to ensure that water drains away freely.
Keep it in a light, cool place over winter and just protect tree and pot from heavy frosts. You could leave the pot well wrapped up to protect the roots, but lemons do much better outside than inside and IME absolutely hate being muffled up or put inside for months on end.

 

I would shape as well ... you need to use a specialist fertiliser for lemons a summer feed and a winter feed ... over the winter needs to be kept frost free so a porch or a greenhouse (but must be frost free ) if not fleece on the very cold days and dont over water in the winter, I keep mine on the very dry side in winter and only on a mild couple of days give a huge drink then nothing for weeks ... Lemons hate being in the house they will drop their leaves to show you how unhappy they are ... apart from that easy to grow and to set fruit ...

spruce

 

Agree, Spruce, except about the fertiliser. I used to fiddle about with summer and winter feeds in UK but have found since that regular Miracle-Gro is really all you need. As you say, ease off watering in the winter, but when I do water mine, they get a half-strength feed as well.
Just harvested 10kgs of limes from one tree

 

Funny you say that, I had another one that I did cover last year, and it turned into a stick when in uncovered start of this year. Previously it was flourishing, with so many lemons.

This one was left out (at a different address). It was really frosty so not sure if it would survive.
There is a tiny Lemmon on the underneath of this one. Don’t want to loose it

 

I am tempted to cut them back a bit! Thanks, Will give it a go for the top ones.
Not to sound stupid but wrap the pot? I have some white mesh stuff that I cover plants with and some thin garden bags to cover plants. what would you recommend covering the pot with?

 

I never knew how demanding Lemmon trees would be I do t have a green house.. maybe a shed in frosty times? I’ll look for some spesalist fertiliser, hasn’t used any previously! Thank you

 

Wow! Will try miracle grow thanks. How often do you feed them?

 

It used to be once a fortnight when I had unlimited supplies. It's once a month now and the difference is quite noticeable.

 

If your area is subject to hard frosts, best to wrap a couple of layers of bubble plastic or a thick layer of straw/cardboard then a plastic 'overcoat' to keep it dry. Wrap around the pot, though, don't impede the drainage! Then you could use the fleece to protect the tree during really nasty spells. It's fun trying to keep them wrapped when it's cold and windy, though, which is why it's best to tuck it somewhere light but sheltered, preferably against a sunny house wall.

 

My mission this winter is to keep this one alive! Need to make some more lemonchello haha. Thank you for your suggestions