Lets dive into how to care for your lemon tree. But first, if you don't have one yet (or are on a budget and want another one) then head here to discover how to grow a lemon tree from a pip
Feeding and watering Lemon Trees
Your tree will need consistent and regular watering. If the container is allowed to dry out, the leaves of the lemon tree will fall off.
Water well in summer, preferably using rainwater. But reduce watering in winter - overwatering in winter is one of the commonest issues with lemon trees. So in winter, allow the surface to partially dry out each time before watering. Water thoroughly with tepid water and then leave excess to drain away from the roots.
Lemon trees are hungry so need regular feeding throughout the year. Use a slow release fertiliser to ensure a consistent supply of nutrients. You can get specific citrus foods. The summer food is high in nitrogen and should be used from late March to October. There is a winter feed too which can be used for the rest of the year.
The last piece of the jigsaw for lemon tree growing is humidity. Lemon trees need humidity to ensure pollination. So you should provide this for them especially if your tree is positioned somewhere where you have central heating. Increase the humidity by standing the pot on a large saucer or tray filled with moist gravel. Keep the water level below the gravel though so you aren't waterlogging the roots. Mist the plant regularly throughout winter.
Training and pruning Lemon Trees
Citrus require only minimal pruning. During the summer, pinch back the tips of the most vigorous growth, using the thumb and forefinger.
If the branches become overcrowded then they can be thinned toward the end of winter. If a reshape is needed then cut back by up to two thirds to encourage bushy growth.
Pruning Mature Lemon Trees
If you have bought a tree, watch out for shoots from below the graft on the main stem. Remove these shoots immediately.
Mature plants may also produce other unwanted, fast-growing shoots called ‘water shoots’. These can be trimmed back if they appear near the branch tips or removed if they appear at the bottom or middle of the plant.
Citrus plants that are 1m (3ft) tall should be allowed to carry no more than 15 - 20 lemons. If it looks like more than this are forming then thin out the fruits.
Where to place your Lemon Tree
Lemon trees need plenty of sunlight, so place your potted tree near a sunny window that receives at least 10 hours of sunlight daily.
If you wish to move your lemon tree outside in summer then find a sheltered sunny position from mid-June until late September. Temperatures must be high though. Even in summer keep a Fleece Jacket handy in case of sudden cold nights.
A minimum winter night temperature of 10°C (50°F) is needed. Temperatures lower than this will at best inhibit flowering and at worst, kill our plant.
Lemon Tree Pests & diseases
If you grow a lemon tree then mealybug, scale insects and aphids can all affect it. These can be treated by introducing biological controls like ladybirds but with a single small lemon tree, washing them off gently with soapy water should work as well. As with most pests, keeping an eye on your plant and acting quickly will prevent any major infestations.
Harvesting Lemons
Pick your lemons as soon as they appear large and yellow. Enjoy!
So has that lit your fire? How about growing other things from scraps like Iceberg Lettuce or growing an Apple Tree from a pip? Or an Olive Tree to add an olive to your Martini?
Comments
Hi Simon, here’s some advice for each of your three 7-month-old lemon trees. At this stage they are still very juvenile, so the goal is gentle shaping, not heavy pruning.
Tree 1: Tall, single stem, no lateral buds yet
Yes, it would be beneficial to take the top out, but only lightly and at the right time. A single, fast-growing whip will not get sturdy on its own. Topping it will encourage side branching even if no buds are currently showing, because citrus have many latent buds under the bark. Wait until spring if possible (or at least active growth). Pinch or cut the top out above a leaf node at about 25–30 cm height from the soil. Do NOT cut it right back drastically — just remove the top 1–2 cm.This will trigger new lateral shoots from the upper nodes and slow vertical growth slightly and thicken the stem. If you top it now (in winter) It’s not harmful, but it may be slower to respond.
Tree 2: Many dormant buds breaking around original leaves.
Let the shoots grow 3–5 cm so you can see which are strongest. In spring, select 3–4 shoots that are evenly distributed around the stem, ideally pointing in different directions, and well-spaced vertically (not all at the same height)
Remove the others by either pinching off when soft, or cutting cleanly once woody.
This will create a strong open “vase” shape.
Tree 3: Split early into two parallel main stems
Whether to remove one or keep both depends on the angle and spacing.
Keep both if they form a broad, open V shape, if the fork is sturdy, and if the two stems are not rubbing or crossing.
A twin-leader citrus can be very productive and attractive.
Remove one if they are too close and almost parallel, if the fork is narrow (“weak crotch angle”), which can split under fruit weight, or if one stem is clearly weaker. If you do remove one do it in spring and remove the weaker one cleanly at the base. You might consider topping or pinching the remaining stem to develop side shoots.
General principles for young lemon trees: Prune only lightly in the first year. Aim to encourage a well-balanced open structure (usually 3–4 main branches). Citrus respond best to shaping when they are actively growing (spring–summer), not during winter slow periods. Never remove more than 20–25% of the plant at once.
I hope that’s helpful. All the best. Haxnicks.
Hi! I have 3 very healthy lemon trees, just 7 months old. They are around 30-40 cm tall.
One is a single stem, growing upwards very tall – should I take the top down to encourage sturdiness? There are no dormant buds opened on this one.
The second one has lots of dormant buds opened at the site of the original leaves. When is a good time to remove some? I think eventually a good target is 4 strong shoots in opposed directions?
The third one split very early into 2 main parallel shoots. Should I remove one or leave both?
Thanks!
Hi Jeni, obviously, I don’t know how large your ‘large pot’ is, but with the 3 trees now at 80cm tall I recommend replanting them into 3 separate pots. It may well be that their root systems are competing and getting quite entwined. You may have to tease them apart when you re-pot and I hope they don’t damage too much. You could try using some of our Vigoroot Pots as they air-prune the roots and create a very strong root system that doesn’t get pot-bound so you can keep the trees in the same pot for several years. I would recommend using 20L pots which are available on our website at £15.49 for a pack of 3. You could use 10L pots and they should also work well but would just need watering a little more frequently. If you want to use more traditional pots, I would recommend a larger size than this. I think it is great that you have managed to grow these trees successfully from seed and I hope they thrive and produce some good fruit for you. All the best, Haxnicks.
I’ve grown a lemon tree from seed, 3 germinated and are all still together in a large pot. They are 80cm tall and have leaves from the bottom to the top. Some lower leaves have now wilted and dropped off on one of the stems. I am wondering if I should be doing something to encourage it to grow better and produce fruit next year. All I do currently is water weekly with a liquid fertiliser and keep in a sunny spot.
Hi Richard
It sounds like you’re doing a lot of the right things already but lets go through things step by step.
The light green leaves could be lack of sunlight or low temperatures but I doubt it is that this year. This is more likely to be a nutrient deficiency (especially nitrogen, iron or magnesium) or (and i think this is what it is) there could be a soil pH mismatch – I am afraid that ericaceous soil is not the ideal choice for citrus. Ericaceous compost is acidic and better for acid-loving plants like blueberries, not citrus. You can get a specific Citrus Compost which is slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6–7) which would allow them to take up the nutrients you are feeding them.
If you don’t want to repot again then you could scoop out as much soil as you can and replace with a citrus-specific compost or amend with loam-based compost and added grit for drainage (lemons love well drained soil).
Keep feeding with citrus fertiliser every 1–2 weeks during the growing season but if symptoms persist, consider a magnesium-rich supplement (like Epsom salts: 1 tsp per litre of water once a month).
Don’t remove the light green leaves unless they are damaged as they are still working and fueling your plant— new leaves will emerge and darken over time as you get the nutrients sorted. If they’re staying light, it’s def a nutrient issue, not something to prune away.
Brief Flowering – is normal for younger trees. Flowering and fruiting take energy, and your tree is still establishing and struggling with it soil
Other things to look out for – ensure it’s getting at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day — tricky in the UK, but a sunny south-facing position is ideal and you have a better chance in Bude than elsewhere in the UK I suspect. Be patient: fruiting often doesn’t occur until year 2 or 3, especially if conditions are variable. Make sure that drainage is excellent. One hole in an acrylic pot may not be enough. Consider drilling extra holes or lift the pot slightly off the ground to aid drainage and air circulation.
Leaf Curling is sometimes due to over or under-watering but, as you have seen spider mites, I suspect this will be the cause in your case. Spider mites love dry, sheltered environments so combat this by spraying the plant weekly with a mild soapy water solution or neem oil to deter them. Increasing humidity around the plant with a pebble tray with water or mist the foliage (but only early in the day to avoid fungal problems) will also help.
Reading this back it sounds like you will be spending more time with the tree than your family! Sorry about that but hopefully this advice will help!
Another new boy here with a tree approximately 125 cm (4 ft 1 inch) high. We are one year in and based in Bude in Cornwall. i have repotted once. Pot is 45 cm diameter and 41 cm high. My lemon tree is flowering but only briefly, it is also growing new leaves which are light green and have been light green for sometime. An app I’m using is suggesting that it’s unwell and that I should remove the lighter coloured leaves. Some of the dark green and light green leaves are slightly curled over. I check it 2 to 3 times a day and have found occasional tiny spiders which I believe are spider mites? I’m removing them. I’m feeding it every two weeks or so during summer with a liquid citrus food called Plantura. Obviously carefully following the instructions. When I repotted it, I used ericaceous compost as advised by my local garden centre. Drainage from the acrylic pot is by a single medium sized hole at the base.
Not sure what else I can do but thanks to your comments I have only just realised any fruit will appear later in the season and maybe be a few years? Thanks for any advice
Welcome ‘new boy’ Alan, glad you found it helpful and happy growing!
A most useful and comprehensive document.
As a “new boy” in the art of lemon tree growing your comments have given me much cofidence and I look forward to picking my first crop.