Avatar for funtourladyaolcom
Jul 20, 2022 8:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Palm Springs, CA.
HELP please! My poor dwarf lemon tree (5-6 years old) has lost every single leaf (see photo) and is dying or possibly already dead & can't be revived? We've had recent daily temperatures of 110-115F here in the low desert but the total loss of every leaf has never happened in past years. It receives daily watering & I've done a soil test & all levels are within range. It was beautiful in the spring & loaded with flowers but gradually the leaves began to curl, turn yellow & drop. It is planted on the south side between a block wall & house. Can you PLEASE tell me what's happened & what I can do to save it?
Thumb of 2022-07-21/funtourladyaolcom/59e6f8
Image
Jul 20, 2022 8:51 PM CST
Name: Zoƫ
Albuquerque NM, Elev 5310 ft (Zone 7b)
Bee Lover Salvias Region: New Mexico Herbs Container Gardener Composter
Cat Lover Butterflies Bookworm Birds Enjoys or suffers hot summers
Welcome! to NGA
Oh, that is so sad. It looks like tt either drowned or fried, possibly both. The space between a block wall and a house in 110+ degrees probably turned into a blazing heat funnel and that alone could have been the death blow. Temps like that are brutal on plants and trees, and there is very little you can do, especially in that location. Daily watering is too much, even in high temps. The yellow leaves might have been heat or nutritional issue.

It also looks like your tree is planted too deeply. The soil should be level with the top of the trunk flair, where the roots emerge.

HOWEVER. Don't pull it out yet. It's possible it has gone dormant in the heat and will survive. I have only a little hope, but plants are amazing creatures. Cut way back to infrequent but deep watering (it has no leaves, it needs only minimal water). Do not fertilize. Pull the soil away from the trunk. Then wait. When the weather gets cooler, scrape tiny patches of the bark in various locations. If it's brown underneath, the tree is dead. If it's green underneath it could still survive, so give it more time and watch for new growth. It won't survive indefinitely without leaves.

I'm curious, how hot does it usually get in the summer where you are? Has it survived temperatures like this before, and how did you care for it?
Image
Jul 20, 2022 9:03 PM CST
Name: Gheri
Merritt Island Fl zone 9b (Zone 9b)
Aroids The WITWIT Badge Tropicals Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Orchids Region: Florida
Dog Lover Critters Allowed Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Birds Bee Lover
Hi! And Welcome! @funtourladyaolcom
When temps go over 103 degrees for a period of time, the tree will go dormant. So, hopefully that's all it is. Lemon trees like temps between 70 and 100 degrees.
Since you mentioned that you had the tree for years, is that unusually high temperatures for your location?
Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Newyorkrita and is called "Rose Francois Rabelais"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.