To keep your lemon tree (*Citrus x limon*) happy and healthy, regular feeding is a must. Think of it this way: by keeping the soil rich in nutrients, you’re giving your little tree the fuel it needs to grow strong, push out beautiful blossoms, and—most importantly—produce those juicy lemons we all love!
When Should You Fertilize?
The feeding season kicks off right after winter dormancy, as soon as you see those first new leaves starting to sprout. You’ll want to keep up the routine until the end of August. From September until that first spring growth spurt, your lemon tree is taking a break, so you can put the fertilizer away.
Choosing the Right Fertilizer
When it comes to picking a “menu” for your *Citrus x limon*, you’ve got a few great options:
- Specialized citrus fertilizer
- Standard green plant fertilizer
- All-purpose liquid fertilizer
Citrus Fertilizer
These are specialty blends specifically designed to meet the unique nutritional cravings of citrus plants.
How often?
The frequency really depends on the specific brand you pick up. Most citrus fertilizers are designed for weekly use, but some slow-release versions only need to be applied every three weeks. To avoid overfeeding (which can stress the plant), always double-check the instructions on the label.
Since most of these are liquid fertilizers that you mix into your watering can, they’re super easy to use. Just a pro-tip: try to time your fertilizing with your regular watering schedule. If you add an extra “fertilizer watering” on top of your usual routine, you might accidentally overwater the tree and end up with soggy roots.
Green Plant Fertilizer
If you don’t have citrus-specific food on hand, a standard green plant fertilizer is a solid alternative. Lemon trees love nitrogen but don’t need a whole lot of phosphate, which is exactly what these blends offer.
How often?
If you go this route, here’s a good rule of thumb:
- From the first spring leaves through the end of May: every two weeks.
- From June through September: once a week.
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
If you’re looking for the low-maintenance route, a standard liquid fertilizer is your best bet. You’ll usually only need to mix this into the water once or twice a month. Again, just make sure you’re planning these doses around your tree’s actual thirst so you don’t overdo the moisture.
What About After Repotting?
If you’ve just brought a new tree home or finished repotting your lemon tree into fresh soil, you can take a break from fertilizing for a few weeks. Fresh potting mix is usually pre-loaded with plenty of nutrients to get the plant started. Check the bag of soil to see exactly how many weeks of “built-in” food it provides before you need to start supplementing again.
