Yellow leaves on the lemon tree: causes and how to save it

If your lemon tree shows chlorosis on the leavesthat is, they turn yellow by lack of chlorophyll and this first affects the oldest branches and spreads to the youngest, we are facing a case of chlorosis due to lack of nitrogen.

Nitrogen, or N, is one of the main nutrients for lemon. Without it, they cannot grow and develop properly and it is an especially essential nutrient for flowering plants and fruit trees. In this other article we talk more about the function of nitrogen in plants and its importance.

Pay special attention to how chlorosis progresses, it is important to be able to identify it. It will only be due to a lack of nitrogen if it appears first in the oldest leaves and advances towards the new ones, if not, it may be due to other causes.

You can remedy this problem by applying to the lemon tree a citrus fertilizer specific, or simply adding organic fertilizer rich in nitrogen on a regular basis, such as worm castings or bokashi.

Contrary to what happens with a lack of nitrogen, if you have a lemon tree with yellow and wrinkled leaves and this begins in the new leaves to spread towards the old ones, it will surely be lack of zincanother micronutrient that your plant needs.

This can also affect new shoots, which will appear already yellow and stunted on their newly formed leaves. Usually, the yellow color will only affect the spaces between the veins of the leaf, the latter retaining their common green, although in very severe cases even the veins will turn yellow.

In the case of the lack of zinc, in addition, we will also see necrosis spots on the edges of the sheet, which will just make sure that this is the problem.

In the case of iron deficiency, the yellowing will also affect the new leaves first and will spread to the older ones, although without necrosis spots or the appearance of dwarfism. The clearest particularity of iron deficiency is that it starts in the veins and, when severe, the leaves will turn an almost white-yellow, so much so that the leaf veins will be almost impossible to discern.

This problem can occur, both due to the lack of iron in the soil, as well as because the irrigation has been excessive or the drainage is very bad and the roots, drowned, are unable to absorb the element from the soil. It will be necessary to improve the drainage, space the irrigations or apply iron for lemon in the fertilizer.

Unlike the nutrients mentioned above, lack of manganese is identified in the lemon tree with dry and yellow leaves because the yellowing does not occur in the entire leaf, but irregularly, almost mottled. That is, we find yellow spots on lemon leaves.

Chlorosis appears on new shoots and progresses to old shoots, but dwarfism does not appear. It is usual for this to appear naturally to a certain degree in winter, and with the arrival of the warm months it disappears without problems. Only when there is a serious lack of this element will it be necessary to intervene.

After discovering all this, we recommend you read these other two EcologíaVerde articles on Why yellow leaves appear on plants and solutions and Pests and diseases of lemon trees, as well as continue reading the following sections of this same guide.

The treatment for yellow lemon leaves It will depend entirely on which of the causes listed above we are facing. Most of them go through applying to the tree a suitable fertilizer that meets those nutrient needs you have. The fertilizer, in addition, does not have to be chemical. There are a large number of organic fertilizers that you can make yourself, for very little money, and that will supply your tree’s nitrogen, manganese, iron or zinc needs without problems.

The case of iron deficiency due to poor drainage is the most complicated when it comes to adult lemon trees, since transplant a tree of large size is practically unfeasible or very expensive. Do what you can to improve soil drainage and avoid waterlogging of the area at all costs, spacing the risks if necessary. Yes the leaves of the lemon tree are yellow and fall off even after having done this, you probably have to assess whether the cause is different and not the one you thought and assess other methods.

The lemon tree diseases they are much easier to prevent than to treat, especially those that depend on the terrain. Here are some tips to prevent lemon yellow leaves and, in general, the diseases of these citrus fruits:

• Make sure to locate your tree in an area with the best possible drainage and sunshine.
• You can water the area abundantly before planting it and notice where it puddles or accumulates water and where it does not. The point where there is no stagnant water will be the best area. Here you can learn about How to plant a lemon tree.
• Regarding nutrients, fertilize your fruit tree regularly and add organic matter to the soil in the warm months in the form of earthworm humus or compost.

Now we encourage you to continue learning about these citrus fruit trees reading our guides on

• Lemon tree care.
• How to get rid of a pest on a lemon tree.
• Why do the flowers of the lemon tree fall?
• Homemade insecticides for lemon trees.

If you want to read more articles similar to Yellow leaves on the lemon tree: causes and how to save itwe recommend that you enter our category .