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Half dead lime tree

Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
in Problem solving

In May 2015 I bought a small lime tree from the local garden centre. I had it in my conservatory. It was nice for about 1 month and then started dropping leaves.  image There were little creatures on the leafs and stems - I think they're called scale. image

I spent a lot if time that summer cleaning each branch and both side of the leaves with surgical spirit to get rid of the bugs. This worked but then they just seemed to reappear.

By 2016 there were no leaves left so I stuck it outside for the summer and then back indoors.

This spring there was growth at the base and now quite a lot. Should I cut all the dead looking branches off or leave them?

image

Last edited: 02 October 2017 16:52:32

My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


Posts

  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161

    Thank you PansyFace - will get cutting. Not sure what to doabotu the trunk as it's so think - will need a hacksaw. I guess at best I'll have a lime untidy shrub and no longer a ball shaped tree!

    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    A pair of Felco secateurs will cut through that no probs.  And be very handy for other pruning jobs too.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161

    Thanks for that Obelixx. answers another question I was about to research online, My current secateurs are useless so wondered what a decent brand would be!

    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
    Hi pansyface and Obelixx - I was on the forum and saw my post from two years ago about my sad lime tree. I thought I'd update you on how it's looking now as I took your advice! I got some Felco Model 6 Compact Secateurs which have quite revolutionised my gardening life. I can now prune my many lavenders with so much ease compared to using cheaper (and way inferior) secateurs in the past. I should have invested in these decades ago!

    I've had my lime tree in my conservatory during the winter and then outside in the summers. It's now looking a lot better than in 2017 :)


    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    😊 👍 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Looks lovely @Bill and Ben time to give it a treat and repot it too. Proves the point of perseverance...too many people give up too easily. It so rewarding growing citrus despite the odd issue here and there. Wouldn't be without my Thai Lime...the fragrance of the leaves is magical in curries and through steamed rice.
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Bill_and_BenBill_and_Ben Posts: 161
    I'm about to repot my lime tree which has been absolutely glorious the last few months but has suddenly dropped a lot of leaves as the dreaded scaly bug is back and it's lost over half it's leaves. We've been here before so I am confident of another return from the apparent dead!

    My question is should I used any particular compost when repotting it?
    My location: Histon, near Cambridge, UK


  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    You can buy specialist citrus compost.

    This care guide has some good concise advice: https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/content.cfm?ref=Citrus+Trees+-+Care+Guide 

    Also there a good page on this website with a homemade compost formula that may work as an alternative:
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/guide-to-growing-citrus-plants-in-the-uk/
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
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