Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

THis lemon tree is unfortunately stuck right in a corner of the yard with poor sunlight from surrounding tree shade.
It's been there since we moved in 4 years ago so it's well established but the fruit are small and sparse.
There was a time I thought it nearly died when it dropped all its leaves a few months back. The leaves started to regrow but have yellow tips.
What can I do to perk it up?

Pee on it

Those bottom ones look like suckers to me, you need to regularly prune those off.

At this time of year, give the whole tree a good prune back anyways and in spring give it a good fertilising.

What Charlie said. Prune the dead wood and the suckers from the base then a good feed with sheep or cow mature


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It is really not worth the hassle in trying to get a tree to grow where it is not getting what it needs as it will always struggle and be attacked by pests such as scale. Get a new tree and plant it in a sunny spot. Dig in lots of manure and compost, and mulch around the tree out beyond the drip line to prevent any grass or plants growing underneath - their shallow roots do not like competition. Remove any baby lemons for the first year to give the tree a chance to establish, and you will start to get lemons in the 2nd year and for decades to come. Fertilise with chook poo (aged or pelletised) in spring and late summer.

They need at least 4-5 hours of good sun a day...more is better. I would cut it way back, remove all dead wood and transplant to new location. After it shows signs of new growth, fertilize and keep well watered, but not wet until it recovers.

thanks will get it pruned and fertilised, not worth transplanting as I have many sources of free lemons

I agree with the pruning but give it a dose of epsom salts.

Living in Perth I seriously doubt its not getting enough light.

gorotsuki69

Sometimes I can be a little short with explanations. I wasn't trying to be funny with the dose it with epsom salts.
I am not sure where you live in Perth but a lot of the coastal plain is nutrient deficient sand.
Imho that tree has classic symptoms of nutrient deficiency and especially magnesium (epsom salts is magnesium sulfate).

looks like it needs

rock dust
organic matter
chook poo
mulch

I would also improve the soil with some clay addition to help hold the organic matter. You can make up a solution and water the clay in.