The article has been updated successfully.Newly planted citrus trees can be fertilized for the first time about 3 weeks after planting or when swelling buds indicate that new growth is beginning. For the first year fertilizer can be applied about every 6 weeks. If an 8-8-8 analysis fertilizer is being used, about ½ cup is adequate for the first application, gradually increasing the amount of each application to 1 ½ pints for the last application of the first year.
For the second through fifth years this table can be followed
| Year since planting | Number of fertilizer applications per year | Pounds of Nitrogen per tree per year | Pounds of fertilizer per application |
||
6-6-6 |
8-8-8 |
10-10-10 |
|||
| First |
6 |
0.15-0.30 | 0.44-0.8 | 0.3-0.6 | 0.3-0.5 |
| Second |
5 |
0.30-0.60 | 1.-2. | 0.8-1.5 | .06-1.2 |
| Third |
4 |
0.45-0.90 | 1.9-3.8 | 1.4-2.8 | 1.1-2.3 |
| Fourth |
3 |
0.80-1. | 4.4-5.6 | 3.3-4.2 | 2.7-3.3 |
| Fifth & Higher |
3 |
1.1-1.4 | 6.1-7.8 | 4.6-5.8 | 3.7-4.7 |
The fertilizer should be broadcast over an area extending out about twice as far as the dripline of the tree, since the roots grow out well beyond the dripline.
For citrus older than 5 years old, 3 applications per year are sufficient. These can be made in late winter/early spring, late spring/early summer and late summer/ fall as, for example, in January/February, May/June and September/October. For older trees, fertilizers with little or no phosphorus (the middle number in the fertilizer analysis) can be used in place of the balanced fertilizers listed above.
Additional Resources
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS132
