Dear gardeners. This is my first lemon tree and its doing well. It's a dwarf Meyer and in Canberra. I'd really like to know how to protect it from our killer frosts. Ideally, it would be best against a north facing wall but all gardens are not created equally! The four posts are to put something over it. Would shade cloth work or do I need something more solid? Additionally, how should I prune it to to eventually create a nice small tree? Thank you all in anticipation of your advice.
by Buzzing07
3 Comments
It’s a long way off being ready for pruning, maybe 1-2seasons. Remove the stake now and at end of winter pick off the leaves on the lower trunk to promote a clean trunk and new shoots higher up
Shade clothe suspended on stakes may be enough to protect it from hail and frost in Canberra. Id certainly do this before end of Autumn. Mulching will also protect the roots from chill and drying out.
For a small tree like this you can get fine white netting bags that have a zipper, and a draw string. you only need a light stake to hold it away from the top of the canopy and it should protect it against frost, bugs, vermin and possums.
I just leave ours grow, add fertiliser and water and they can just grow; I wouldn’t touch it for years
Thank you.