What to do this week: Citrus Care

We are always answering questions about how to manage, protect and get the best yield from our citrus.

The simple rule is that you get out only as much as you put in. If you take a few simple steps to care for your citrus each season you will be rewarded with a bounty of fruit.

• Most citrus are in flower at present. Remove at least 50% of flowers from your citrus trees to maximise the energy going into developing fruit. This will mean bigger and better fruit.

• Feed citrus once each season with a pelletised chicken manure such as Gyganic (Neutrog) and keep them well watered.

• Spray your citrus each fortnight with Eco oil to prevent Citrus Leaf Miner.

• Hang a Citrus Leaf Miner trap in your tree. The trap attracts male citrus leaf miner adults and prevents them from mating with females. Fewer pregnant females mean greater protection for your citrus trees.

Citrus Leaf Miner damaged leaves. Photo - Linda Ross

The eco-CLM trap consists of a rubber plug impregnated with a pheromone and a sticky paper trap. Simply open the trap, throw the plug inside (it will stick) and hang in your tree. For small trees use one trap. For larger trees you’ll need 2 traps.

Female citrus leaf miners only lay eggs on flushes of new growth so hang the trap when new growth commences. Replace every 8-12 weeks or sooner if the sticky trap is full.