Yellow citrus leaves are a common problem in WA. There are a few reasons why citrus leaves will turn yellow. Cold temperatures, over-watering and under-watering are all causes of yellow leaves. However, in Perth conditions we rarely get cold enough weather to cause yellowing and watering is seldom the issue.
After 10 years of gardening throughout Perth, I have found that the most common reason for yellowing leaves in citrus trees is a lack of nutrients. Happily, the good news is that it is also one of the easiest problems to fix.
The quick fix
The quick and easy fix will be to simply apply a fertiliser that contains the nutrient that your citrus tree is lacking. For most people, this will be as easy as going down to the local Bunnings or nursery and buying a citrus specific fertiliser and applying as directed.
Our recommendations
Richgro Black Marvel Premium & Citrus Fruit
This is a great option to quickly fix citrus nutrient deficiency. This citrus fertiliser is fast acting and lasts about 8 weeks. If applied correctly, most gardeners will see their yellow citrus leaves green and healthy again in a few weeks.
Follow the recommended application rates. Water in thoroughly. To prevent nutrient deficiency from recurring, reapply the fertiliser every 8 weeks.
Scotts Osmocote Citrus & Fruit Fertiliser
For most people, reapplying a citrus fertiliser ever 8 weeks is something they are likely to forget. For others, it may just seem like too much work. This Scotts citrus fertiliser has a special coating that causes the fertiliser to slowly release it nutrients over a 6 month period.
These coated fertilisers can be much more expensive per kg but are actually very good value for money when considering the results they produce.
Because of the slow-release nature of this fertiliser, it is not as good an option if a quick remedy is needed. However, these fertilisers do a great job of preventing the issue from coming back.
This product is another slow-release fertiliser lasting 6 months per application. However, in addition to having the nutrients your citrus tree needs, this Troforte fertiliser contains 24 species of beneficial microbes, bacteria and fungi. These beneficial microbes bacteria and fungi are specifically chosen to enhance fruit taste and produce better yields.
This product is available at most garden nurseries and is a great option for the serious gardener.
Which nutrient is my citrus tree lacking?
This photo below from ipipotash.org is really helpful in seeing the different nutrients that could be lacking in your citrus tree. One omission is that of nitrogen. If your citrus leaf is evenly pale and yellow all over, then it is likely lacking in nitrogen.
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