Saving Citrus Trees by Removing Unloved Trees

[@ZamaniSahib]

Do you have a link to the new guidelines if care?

[@Fruitmentor]

Here are some things to do and a helpful website: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4TKXoaJgNyIqs0 (Ant control by baiting) kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGrMoWClhL2Xisk (Ant control by sticky barriers) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnfCq56AmNB2ftE (Pruning) californiacitrusthreat.org/

[@BryceGarling]

Oddly our citrus tree came with the property and the root stock was allowed to take up half of the tree. We were going to remove it but oddly the fruit are really good on the root stock. So it is half navel and half some other thing. The tree is getting old so when one half goes the whole thing will go.

[@Fruitmentor]

What does the rootstock fruit taste like? Is it sour (maybe sour orange)?

[@BryceGarling]

@@Fruitmentor Very sweet.

[@samuelalexander1677]

I think that tree look similar to my lime tree,it secrete a lot of sap,even the leaf is just about 20 percent of what it has when it was healthy.I think that is canker,right?Can i save it or i need to cut it down?

[@kanger80]

I am wondering if you have ever heard of Korean Natural Farming? I am starting to use the principles on a mixed orchard in my backyard that includes some citrus. I think it might be possible that KNF might be of some help in strengthening the immune system of the tree, crowding out bacteria that you don't want, recruiting different beneficial fungus, and also using a hot pepper water foliar spray to control pests. Do you have any thoughts on this?

[@Fruitmentor]

I have heard of it. Unfortunately I do not believe that it will be helpful for the situation in California. At the currrent stage of the disease, the goal in California is to remove every single diseased tree and thus avoid spread to other trees. In Florida they attempted to keep the diseased trees and control the spread of the disease with insecticides and it did not work. So the current strategy in California is to prevent spread of the disease rather than live with it. Anything to improve citrus health is great, but once the disease is detected the tree should be removed. In some areas like Florida the disease is so prevalent that it is impossible to control it by removing trees. Therapy techniques that do not make sense in California at the current disease stage may be helpful in these areas. The current theory about the origin of HLB disease is that it originated as a disease of the psyllid insects. The disease made the species jump from insect to citrus. The citrus that we love so much has no natural immunity to HLB, so there is no immunity to enhance. Citrus trees are defenseless against this disease. This is different than many other diseases that co-evolved with citrus. Perhaps Korean Natural Farming could help with some citrus diseases, but I suspect that it would not be of much help with HLB. The only sure way to protect citrus trees from HLB in areas where the disease exists is to keep the citrus psyllids away from the trees via screened structures like I mention at the end of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7KZ5WZjZ1re8k

[@highplains7777]

Sounds like something for backyard hobbyists, but not for commercial production.

[@matts.6904]

@@Fruitmentor Well, they did heroically try the quarantine method in FL with Canker, but despite those efforts it couldn't be stopped, and in the process greatly angered and sparked lawsuits by residents who's trees were unexpectedly cut down by the state. Best of luck to California with the quarantine method though.

[@robertplas3947]

Is there a free tree removal program for San Diego County?

[@Fruitmentor]

Hi Robert, You can put your info in here and find out: removemycitrus.com/ It may depend upon the circumstances. I understand that they prioritize the HLB quarantined areas, but I think they can also help in certain other situations like abandoned citrus groves. It may depend upon the number of trees.

[@adharshvishnu]

I am from India and I have small white spots all over my 1 year old lime tree leaves, do you have any idea what that might be, the spots are From the inside of the leaves I guess

[@Fruitmentor]

It is hard to say without a photo, but it could be some sort of scale insect. If there are ants on a tree they can prevent predators from killing scale insects which causes them to build up. I show some of these scale insects in the following video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4TKXoaJgNyIqs0

[@treedefender3891]

Tree Defender can help protect trees from HLB. Our protective covers keep the psyllids off of the trees. Visit our website for more information www.thetreedefender.com

[@SaraRamezaniHOST]

Is it possible to grow a sick plant from seed?

[@Fruitmentor]

Hi Sara, I asked your question to Dr. Georgios Vidalakis of the CCPP and published it in another video. You can see his answer at the 7:33 mark here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHKklmuKo7VmnLM

[@az0953]

very interesting

[@Fruitmentor]

Thank you!