Q: We have a navel orange tree in our backyard. It was there when we moved in over 25 years ago. It always produces fruit with great flavor but some years, like this year, the fruit was small. Some years they are almost as big as grapefruit. Is this a water issue or a fertilizer issue? We have never done a lot of fertilizing, but I would if you recommend it.
A: Citrus trees are well-adapted to southern California’s hot summers and mild winters and are usually easy to grow here. If you want a robust tree that produces good fruit, there’s a few things you should keep in mind.
Citrus roots are not especially deep, so they appreciate regular watering. They don’t like soggy soil, but they really don’t like an erratic watering schedule. Their roots can’t compete with grass roots, so leave at least a 3-foot grass-free radius around the trunk.
Citrus also requires regular fertilization, especially if it’s fruiting. Fruit production is a demanding process that takes a lot of nutrients out of the soil. If those nutrients are not replenished (via fertilization), the fruit quality and quantity will suffer.
Apply a commercial fertilizer three times per year. Citrus fertilizer contains micronutrients specifically required by citrus trees. An ideal schedule is February, June, and November. Follow the package directions carefully to ensure your tree is getting the right dosage.
You should see an overall improvement in your tree’s appearance followed by a better-quality crop.
Q: Last year, my garden got hit by grasshoppers and a lot of our plants were heavily damaged. Is there some way to prevent this from happening again this year?
A: There are two species of grasshoppers that cause the most destruction in California. One is the appropriately-named devastating grasshopper (Melanoplus devastator) and the other is the valley grasshopper (Oedaleonotus enigma).
For small infestations, hand removal is most effective. They are languid and easier to catch in the cool early morning hours. (My mother-in-law used to go after them with a pair of kitchen scissors.)
Cats enjoy eating them as well. When our cats were kittens, my kids used to catch grasshoppers and release them in the house just so they could watch the kitties hunt them down. They especially liked hearing their little high-pitched growls when they finally caught one. Of course, I was the one who would step on the discarded grasshopper leg with my bare foot. (Perhaps I should have just gotten cable instead.)
After an unusually wet winter, the grasshopper population can reach an unmanageable size. Floating row covers, a physical barrier you can put over your plants, can offer some protection, but they can be cumbersome when there’s many crops that need protection. The insects can chew through cloth row covers so metal screen structures may be a better option if your grasshoppers are the more motivated type.
Carbaryl baits can be used, but they are most effective against immature insects. Any insecticide spray that can kill grasshoppers will also kill honeybees, so their use is not recommended.
Severe invasions usually are short-lived, so mechanical protection is preferable to killing honeybees.
Have gardening questions? Email gardening@scng.com.
Looking for more gardening tips? Here’s how to contact the Master Gardener program in your area.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; http://celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; 949-809-9760; http://mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-683-6491 ext. 231; https://ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; http://mgsb.ucanr.edu/
