The best time to plant citrus trees in Australia is early autumn or spring. But no matter when you plan to plant a lemon tree there are a few things to remember that will guarantee the best results – including what not to plant near citrus trees.
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 buildup 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 under your citrus tree
Citrus companion plants
The best citrus companion plants are:
Just remember, when planting near a citrus tree, avoid digging into the soil as this may disturb the shallow root system of your 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.
