We planted our 7 feet tall Meyers (purchsed in April '06) in a 'whiskey barrel' we purchased from Lowes (not all locations carry them - we had to go from the closest one to home over to another about 10 miles away!). We used Jungle Grow for plants and shrubs - at the suggestion of a nursery person at Lowes. We have NOT given the tree any additional 'food/fertilizer' since the planting in April. Our tree still has the 11, yes 11, lemons that just keep on growing.

We live in Spring Hill, Florida (zone 9). We seem to be watering it close to every day. The tree wobbles a bit in the barrel but we planted it at the same depth that it was in in the original 6-1/2 gal plastic container when we purchased the tree. My husband read an article that we clipped out of a California paper a few years ago. It said to water every day and to put mulch on top of the soil.

Three questions:

1. When do we feed it and what?

2. Is it okay if it wobbles or do we need to add more soil or stakes?

3. Does it need mulch, or anything else, on top of it?

We are enjoying watching the lemons grow and look forward to picking them. We hope that the fast approaching hurricane weather does not blow away the lemons or topple the tree.

I'm busy job searching so I don't get on the forum too frequently. I wish I could simply find a position and then I'd have more time on the forum and learn from all of you.
Pat & Dick says "me too"

Congrats on the tree. I hope you enjoy it as much as most of us on here enjoy ours. Fertilizer, I use Lutz tablets which are handy time release for the better part of a year. I would not use mulch close to the trunk at all. The one thing citrus have to have is well drained soil. Mulch will hold too much moisture over the roots, and can cause root rot. I wouldn't worry too much about it rocking with the wind as long as it's not too excessive. If it's too bad, you might use three stakes for support. Hope this helps some...

Thanks for the info. We haven't put any mulch on it and now won't. We had a tropical storm "Alberto" the last few days and my husband staked the tree out to the ground rathern than on the narrow whiskey barrel and I covered the 11 lemons with a net laundry bag! They both worked beautifully and we only lost a few leafs. We have some fungus on the lemon tree and our Bird of Paradise. The man at the nursery said to use Liquid Copper Fungicide on both three times - every 7-10 days. Also to feed the lemon tree with osmacote graduales - about 1/2 lb on top of the soil about every three months. So, that's about it for now! We're happy campers and the 11 lemons keep growing and we have one new blossom!

Thanks for responding!
Pat

Have successfully used the copper soap for sooty mold. Black mold developes after insects have been sucking out juices from the leaves and stems. Deals well with aphid results and such. Glad you survived yet another tropical storm. Glad I get to miss those in central Texas. My citrus have settled in, and getting lots of new leaf growth. Grapefruits are about 2 1/2 inch diameter at this time. They're growing the most right now. Looking toward building me a big cold frame this fall for all the citrus, seedlings, hibiscus, etc, etc..... It'll keep me out of trouble in the meantime...take care....Dan...