When you think of Florida, you think of citrus -- Florida orange juice. For more than 150 years, Florida has been king of the citrus world. With proper planning, citrus can be harvested 8 months out of the year, right from your own backyard.
Citrus trees of all sorts need sun, and lots of it. Good drainage is essential, which for most of Florida is not a problem. You can help amend your soil by mixing in plenty of organic material, such as Miracle-Gro® Organic Choice® Garden Soil. But if you live in the poorly drained flatwoods areas, you might consider planting citrus on top of low mounds to help with drainage around their roots.
Purchase citrus trees only from reputable growers, since disease problems have been a common issue in the past few years. Make the planting holes large -- up to 3 times the size of the rootball -- and fill in with good soil all around. The soil should be well watered to help remove any air pockets, and the rootball should be positioned 1 to 2 inches above the native soil level. Water daily for the first two weeks and then slowly taper off until you're down to a thorough weekly soaking.
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It's very important during the first several years that your citrus trees receive plenty of water. Every 3 months, apply a quality citrus food, such as Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed Continuous Release Citrus, Avocado and Mango Plant Food.
