How can I protect lemon trees from frost?
I recently move to a new place which has several lemon trees in the yard. I do not know what kind they are but there are currently fruits on them which are not yet ripe. I live close to San Jose and temperatures here are meant to go below freezing briefly and I don't know if I should protect the trees somehow. Is there an easy way to do this? Many thanks
Posted
by: Fred Johnson
(3 points)
Posted: November 30, 2013
Answers
Use Burlap bags, blankets or cardboard wrapped around the tree, trunk. In wet weather use plastic on top of the burlap/blankets. Keep the soil moist as moist soil radiates more heat (so no mulch). Consider using christmas lights which provide a little bit of heat. If very cold put a high watt spot light at the base shining up, under the blankets
see more here
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az12...
http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8100.pdf
see more here
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/crops/az12...
http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8100.pdf
Posted
by: David Hughes
(67 points)
Posted: December 2, 2013
I grow key limes in my area via espalier on a south wall:
http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.c...
It's too late to do that with your particular tree, but if you ever plant another one - it works.
In addition to David's excellent advice, you can also fill a 55 gallon drum with water and place it beneath the tree next to the trunk.
We hit the local thrift stores for cheap blankets and sheets. They only cost a couple bucks there.
http://www.floridasurvivalgardening.c...
It's too late to do that with your particular tree, but if you ever plant another one - it works.
In addition to David's excellent advice, you can also fill a 55 gallon drum with water and place it beneath the tree next to the trunk.
We hit the local thrift stores for cheap blankets and sheets. They only cost a couple bucks there.
Posted
by: David Goodman
(69 points)
Posted: December 4, 2013
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It sounds like your trees are reasonably well-established, so it might be more a matter of protecting the fruit and then dealing with any minor damage to the tree itself after frost, This site has great advice on both subjects :) http://homeorchard.ucdavis.edu/8100.pdf almost 10 years ago.