SPRING PLANTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1040, 2 August 1930, Page 28

SPRING PLANTING

SET LEMON AND ORANGE TREES August and September are good months in most districts for the planting of orange and lemon trees. These trees are liable to be damaged by frosts In the first year of growth, hence the desirability of planting in the spring, when danger of frost is past. The ground needs to be thoroughly, prepared by deep digging, breaking up the subsoil in order to give the roots a free run. Dig an area of, say, five feet square, and see that there is ample drainage for surplus water to get away. Citrus trees will not stand wet feet. Dig a hole to receive the tree. Before planting, place a stout stake firmly in position. Do not plant the young tree too deeply, and be careful not to plant the budded graft or collar when filling in the soil. Give the soil a thorough watering and add a mulching of gras3, leaves or straw, in order to prevent rapid evaporation. After planting, see that the roots do not become dry. Citrus are sur-face-rooting trees, so be careful when watering to do it thoroughly, giving ample soakings, as surface sprinklings would tend to bring the roots to the surface, with the result that they would thus get scorched during the hot summer. Some orange varieties are more suited to particular districts. A useful selection for general planting will be found among the following: Washington Navel, Valencia Late, Mediterranean Sweet, Jaffa. Two popular lemon varieties are Lisbon and Eureka. Citrus trees are gross feeders, and when established it is advisable to give them, iu spring, an application of fertiliser, such as a mixture of bone-dust, blood and superphosphate, adding a little potash.