Citrus planting season is upon us, with the optimum timing being spring or early autumn. When planting a lemon tree, or your favourite other citrus trees, there are a few things to remember for the best results – including what and what not to plant near them.
What not to plant near citrus trees
While some plants can complement lemon and other citrus trees, there are others that can affect their health and how much fruit they produce. So, here are four important factors to help you avoid the wrong types of plants.
Reduce competition
To ensure optimum health of your lemon trees, avoid planting anything near your lovely lemons that will compete with the moisture and nutrition of the soil.
Don’t plant anything with high moisture needs or else you may find your lemon trees lacking in the moisture that they need due to thirsty neighbours.
You’ll also want to avoid planting anything likely to disturb the roots system, so keep any root crops well away. If planting herbs nearby, don’t dig into the soil to plant.
Steer clear of the trunk
Avoid planting anything within 30cm of the trunk of the tree to give you clear access to the tree for all of your trimming, harvesting and inspection needs.
This gives you enough clearance to be able to inspect the trunk of your tree for any moisture build up or to remove any new growth that shouldn’t be there.
Keep tall trees and shrubs away
Your lemon tree needs a full day of sunshine so make sure you don’t plant tall trees or shrubs that might steal your sunlight. Tall trees would also compete for nutrients and moisture so best to keep them away.
Give your tree some space
If your lawn grows all the way up to your tree then there is a risk that mowing and edging might damage the trunk of your tree. Giving your lemon tree a 30cm radius around the bottom will give your tree the safe space it needs.
What to plant near a citrus tree
The correct companion plants can help your lemon and citrus trees in a few different ways;
- Pollination – flowering plants will attract bees and other pollinators.
- Protection from pests.
- Improving soil quality.
- General improvement of the garden area, including scent and appearance.
Of course, when choosing which trees to plant nearby, you want to focus on plants that require similar conditions to thrive. This means similar soil conditions, sunlight and moisture requirements to other citrus trees.
The best friends for citrus tree companion planting are herbs and flowering plants. Some good companions include basil, borage, nasturtiums, marigolds and alyssum. Just remember to avoid disturbing the citrus roots by digging into the soil.
Best garden tools
Spear & Jackson garden spade with green handle, $45.15, Amazon
Electric pruning shears, from $99.99 (normally $127), Amazon
Ladies gardening glove by Burgon & Ball, $70, Hard to Find
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