Dear Abby,
I am a little concerned about the lime tree I planted a few weeks ago.
Not sure what’s going on here but it appears to be severely lacking in the foliage department. Is it tired and shagged out after a long southerly? Is it pining for the fiords? Missing its friends at the garden centre? Any advice gratefully appreciated!
Perplexed of Peka Peka
Hey Kirst. It is looking a bit peaky. Our NZ Fruit Garden book says limes will drop their leaves if left dry for too long. Water consistently but not obsessively, it reckons. Mind, it also says they develop a very deep root base & are good at seeking out water. They prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil. You could try chucking a bit of mulch around it to keep the soil from drying out too much & get some organic matter into the soil. Channeling Eion Scarrow here.
Thanks for the advice, Hamish! Abby never seems to get back to me… I will make it so.