Iowa Lemons!

Lemons can be a lot of fun to grow in Iowa!  Wait, what!?  That can't be right...

Unless you live in a tropical or semitropical climate the idea of growing your own lemon tree might seem impossible.  It may not be possible to grow a citrus in the ground here (without some serious effort*) but we can easily grow them, in pots!

*Visit a Nebraska greenhouse that grows lemons and oranges

*Fruit Trenches: Cultivating Subtropical Plants in Freezing Temperatures

These wonderful trees can be a unique addition to any home.  By growing a small lemon tree in a container, you'll be able to get homegrown lemons with limited space, even in the Midwest.  In addition to lemons, the flowers are beautiful and smell amazing! 

Lemon trees actually have pretty good cold and heat tolerance, but our winters get cold, and they need to come indoors.  Growing lemon trees in pots allows them to be mobile.  Having a "mobile home" won't mean they can head south for the winter, but it does allow them to "migrate" to the inside. 

In summer you can put them on your patio, deck or an open area by your vegetable garden.  An apartment balcony can be great too, especially for those who have limited access to other kinds of gardening.  Besides a few citrus trees, I also keep lemongrass, rosemary and bay laurel on our deck.

Almost like a container food forest!

As the weather starts to cool off simply bring them indoors for the winter.  When the temperature gets down below 50°F I'll make plans to bring them in, a frost can be deadly to a potted citrus tree.  Check for aphids, spider mites and scale so you don't bring those in with your tree.  A spray with insecticidal soap usually does the trick.  If your citrus tree drops some or many of their leaves when moved indoors at the end of the growing season, don't worry!  This is a natural response as the tree adjusts to different light levels.

When the late winter months start to seem extra, extra-long you can enjoy the bright, citrus fragrance and think of warmer days soon to come.  With proper care, growing a lemon tree in a pot is easy enough that you can do so anywhere.  

Even in Iowa...

Fall is for Trees!

As summer winds down and school starts back up for many, it may feel like the party is over... but with cooler temperatures comes a beautiful time of year, full of warm colors, falling leaves and favorite sporting events.

Fall is also a GREAT time to plant trees!  Planting in the Fall can set your new trees and shrubs up for long term success, with less stress than summer and beneficial root growth for a head start next season.

Cooler autumn temperatures help reduce transplant stress and moisture loss.  As long as the soil temperature is above 50°F the roots of the tree are still growing.  This extra time, typically into mid-November in Iowa, enables roots to get some extra growth before going fully dormant.

Soil Temperature & Garden Plants 

Autumn's arrival might even bring more rain than the hot and dry weather we've had lately and typical of late summer.  Combine this with the cooler temperatures and your trees might not use as much water as they would during the spring growth spurt and summer heat.  Even during the fall your newly planted tree will still require watering, however, especially to hydrate the subsoil well going into winter. 

"The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, and the next best time is now!"

One thing to consider is that these recommendations are for potted or container trees.  We don't plant dormant bare-root material in the fall in our climate.  They are hard to keep from drying out and winter will almost certainly kill a bare-root tree planted too late in fall in the North.  Early spring is a much better time to plant bare root trees!

When winter arrives your care activities can "chill out" for a few months, but...  

You'll want to keep young trees protected from deer and rabbits (more on that here)

Ask an Arborist: Why Should I Plant in the Fall? (youtube.com)

You might be wondering "How do I plant a tree well?"  Here is a quick overview of how we plant our trees-

Step 1 - Dig hole to a depth of 2" less than the rootball height and twice as wide.  You want the root crown just above the surrounding soil.

Step 2 - Remove the container and break up/cut any pot bound/circling roots, place in hole, and backfill about halfway.  Make sure tree is straight and plum.

Step 3 - Deeply water around the tree letting the water settle the soil. Finish backfilling and watering.

Step 4 - If needed tie up tree for stability.  Two T-posts at the North and South sides, driven outside of the excavated area, are usually enough.  Tie using wide straps with enough tension to allow flexing to strengthen trunks, but not so loose to tip or lean in strong winds.

Step 5 - Mulch in a ring 4'- 6' in diameter, 3-4” deep with hardwood mulch.  Leave several inches between the mulch and trunk to prevent fungal infection.  

Avoid the mulch volcano... instead go for a mulch donut!

Over the next few weeks and months observe and water as necessary until the tree is fully established. 

Water daily for 1-2 weeks; then 2-3 days for 3-12 weeks; then weekly until established

Apply 1-1.5 gallons per inch of caliper (trunk diameter) at each watering

If the ground does happen to thaw in winter, it would be a good idea to try and see if you can get some water to your young tree.  Winter's drying winds can evaporate moisture from the soil, especially if we don't have a protective blanket of snow.

A smaller tree will take nearly a full growing season to become fully established.  A 2" tree may require two years to become fully established on its own while a 3" tree may need three years. The larger the tree, the bigger the shock so continue to be diligent and observant even long after the initial planting and water accordingly.

"A society grows great when old men plant trees under whose shade they know they’ll never sit."

Need help planning and planting this fall?  Abundant Design offers Consultation, Design, Installation, and Stewardship services.  The fall offers a great opportunity to plant, and it’s also a great time to start planning and designing for next season.  We can help!