If you’re considering growing citrus trees, you must understand how they develop and what they need.
Firstly, they’re heavy feeders and require the right fertilizer to develop healthy flowers and juicy fruits.
On the other hand, if you don’t provide them with the right feeding options, their growth will be hindered, the leaves will turn yellow, and the fruit can drop prematurely.
Having this in mind, you must ensure to purchase the best fertilizer for citrus trees. This fertilizer should contain sufficient nitrogen and potassium, or a balanced NPK ratio fertilizer can also achieve the desired effect.
Additionally, the fertilizer should contain some macro and micronutrients to encourage growth, and that’s why we prepared the list below with the 10 best fertilizers for citrus trees.
Take your time to read through it before making a purchase.
Read on!
Top Pick
Our top pick fertilizer for citrus trees is definitely Miracle-Gro’s Shake ‘n Feed. It can be used on various citrus plants, whether young or established, and contains all the essential ingredients to provide optimal growth.
This fertilizer can feed the tree for up to 3 months, and when used appropriately in accordance with the instructions, it provides excellent results without causing plant burn.
According to happy users, it works great in reviving dying plants and encourages new leaf growth.
Budget Pick
If you’re working with a tight budget and need an affordable option, consider trying out the Eco Scraps fertilizer.
It comes in a 4-pound bag and provides a uniform feeding for your citrus plants. This product can be used with various types of citrus trees, palms, fruiting trees, grapes, and flowering vines.
Also, it’s made with organic ingredients and doesn’t contain manure.
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What’s the Right Type of Fertilizer?
As you must know, there are many varieties of citrus trees and plants; however, the most common ones include grapefruits, lemons, limes, and oranges.
Before deciding to plant citrus trees, you have to do your research and ensure you know all the necessary details about when the right time to plant, what fertilizer to use, and when to apply it.
Furthermore, as we’ve presented in our review section, citrus fertilizers have to contain high levels of nitrogen as the most important ingredient.
Your trees will flourish with a balanced or high-nitrogen fertilizer; however, besides these main ingredients, ensure the fertilizer also contains iron, zinc, and manganese.
When’s the Best Time to Fertilize?
It’s a well-known fact that citrus trees are heavy feeders that require a good amount of nutrients for proper growth. That’s why proper fertilization is essential to help the tree produce a high yield and improve its fruit production.
The ideal time for applying fertilizer is during the plant’s active growing months. It’s best to apply once every month or two in summer and spring.
During the dormant period, which occurs in autumn and winter months, it’s recommended to apply fertilizer every two to three months.
This is the ideal fertilizing schedule for young plants. When it comes to established plants, you can skip winter fertilizing and add fertilizer every two or three months during the growing period.
Additionally, try to monitor your plant’s overall condition and be aware of the best time to add fertilizer. Adding too much fertilizer might cause the tree to produce smaller fruits.
What Types of Citrus Fertilizer Can I Purchase?
Similar to other types of fertilizers, citrus fertilizers can be differentiated based on various criteria.
Based on the type of formula, they can be:
- Water-soluble slow-release fertilizers
- Water-soluble fast-release fertilizer
It doesn’t make a significant difference in the type of fertilizer you choose, as they all work effectively. The primary difference is that fast-release fertilizers require more frequent applications.
According to the type of nutrients they provide, they can be divided into:
- Organic citrus fertilizers
- Inorganic citrus fertilizers
The primary difference between these two types lies in the ingredients. The organic fertilizer is made from organic materials derived from natural sources, whereas the chemical fertilizer is made from synthetically produced materials.
Depending on your preferences, needs, and budget, you can choose either one; however, our preference is always for an organic option.
Furthermore, according to their form, citrus fertilizers can be divided into:
- Granular
- Liquid
- Spike
There’s no special rule for what type of fertilizer to choose, and it all depends on your preference and the time you have to spare. For specific requirements and usage methods, refer to our detailed review section to find the product that best suits your needs.
How to Grow Healthy Citrus Trees?
Citrus plants are tropical crops that require the assistance of fertilizers, warm temperatures, and close monitoring to protect them from weeds, diseases, and pests.
Also, these types of plants have their most productive period in the third year and the peek is between 10-30 years.
Good watering is essential for providing a high-quality yield, and our recommendation is to maintain a strict watering schedule, as this will ensure optimal yield, quality, and produce size.
Best Fertilizer for Citrus Trees
1. Miracle-Gro Shake ‘N Feed Citrus Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- New & existing citrus
- Improves nutrient deficiency
- Up to 3 months of feeding
- No burning
- Easy to use
This amazing product from Miracle-Gro can help you care for and nourish all your existing and new plants in your garden. It’s rich in nutrients such as potassium, sulfur, magnesium, and iron, which work together to improve any deficiencies in the plants and encourage healthy growth.
Moreover, the formula allows for feeding up to 3 months, and it doesn’t cause any plant burn if applied according to the instructions.
You can use this product year after year. The best application method is to apply it once during the growing season, followed by a second dose two weeks later. You’ll be happy to see your citrus plants thriving with improved size, taste, and yield.
According to happy customers, they’ve never had such great results from only one dose. The product is easy and convenient; it comes in a 4.5-pound bottle and can be used immediately without any preparation.
Newbie gardeners can use it without any problems, and the easy-to-use bottle top provides effortless application.
2. Jobe’s Organic Fruit & Citrus Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- Organic fertilizer
- Granular form
- OMRI listed
- Jobe’sbiozome
- Easy-pour bag
This fertilizer by Jobe’s is enriched with the proprietary Jobe’s BioZyme, specially designed to provide all the necessary nutrients and encourage healthy growth and high yields.
Moreover, it can be used with various types of plants and trees, such as apples, pears, plums, cherries, peaches, and, of course, citrus fruits.
One of the advantages of using Jobe’s organic fertilizer is that it improves soil quality and enhances nutrient absorption.
Your citrus fruits and trees can become stronger and resist any disease with the help of this amazing plant food.
Since it’s OMRI-listed, this product can be used in organic growing, and it doesn’t contain any dangerous materials that can cause harm to you, your family, or your pets.
3. Espoma Citrus-tone Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- All-natural & organic
- Ideal for citrus plants
- Encourages tree growth
- 4-pounds bag
- Provides balanced feeding
Espoma’s all-natural and organic fertilizer is enriched with many living microbes that work on improving the overall condition of the plants and fruits.
Furthermore, this product is specifically designed for citrus plants, providing balanced nutrition that enhances yield.
What’s more, you can be certain this product does exactly what it’s advertised for, and your lemon trees will love it.
Due to the chicken manure it contains, the product might have a strong smell; however, it’s not something you can’t handle.
We believe that customer testimonials are the best proof of a product’s value, and Espoma’s clients attest that they’ve been using the product for years, finding it provides continuous care for their citrus gardens.
4. Down To Earth’s Organic Citrus Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- 5-pounds
- NPK 6-3-3
- OMRI listed
- Encourages growth
- Great ingredients
Down-to-Earth is a company that has been in existence since 1977, consistently prioritizing environmental sustainability through the manufacture of products that adhere to organic growth standards.
One of these products is the organic citrus fertilizer that’s blended with a special formula, and it doesn’t contain any synthetics, so you can be certain to use a product with premium quality from a valued manufacturer.
The citrus fertilizer comes in a 5-pound box and features a balanced formula of 6-3-3, ideal for encouraging optimum growth.
Moreover, as an OMRI-listed product, the fertilizer is safe for use in organic production. It’s good to know that it contains a variety of beneficial ingredients, including calcium, zinc, iron, and sulfur, which are essential for the plant’s health.
The main ingredients include feather meal, alfalfa meal, fishbone, greensand, basalt, langbeinite, potash, kelp meal, and zinc sulfate.
5. EarthPods Fertilizer by Earthworm Technologies
Highlighted Features
- Premium blend
- No measuring needed
- Easy application
- Proprietary formula
- Great for citrus plants
Your plants deserve the best care, and this fertilizer by Earthworm Technologies is just what they need. It’s an eco-friendly product that comes in compact packaging and is easy to store away during the off-season.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about using the product around your kids or pets, as it doesn’t contain any harmful materials that can cause harm.
Thanks to its premium organic formula, this product promotes the development of leaves and color in various plant types, and without a doubt, your citrus plants will appreciate this product.
Additionally, this product is extremely easy to apply, as it doesn’t require any mixing, measuring, or preparation. You also won’t experience the usual fertilizer smell, which can be quite annoying.
Earthworm’s proprietary formula can help you grow healthy plants in no time, because it contains the right combination of trace minerals, natural growth hormones, plant nutrients, and humic and fulvic acid, which guarantee robust growth.
6. Miracle-Gro Plant & Citrus Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- Encourages plant growth
- Natural fertilizer
- Great for citrus plants
- Easy to use
- Great results
A good gardener is happy when they see their plants thriving, and this Miracle-Gro fertilizer is what you need. Ideally, it should be applied only once in the spring and then again during the autumn months.
This product can provide your citrus plants with quality feeding that’s continuously released in the course of the season.
As soon as you start using this fertilizer, you’ll see the result very fast since your trees will have more fruit than ever.
Since this is a spike-type fertilizer, it’s very easy to apply. You need to prepare the spike and insert it into the drip line of the tree. With the help of the plastic cap, push the spike into the soil, which must be wet before application. Then, remove the plastic cap and reuse it for the next spike.
7. JR Peters Citrus Food Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- Great for citrus plants
- NPK 20-10-20
- Enhanced formula
- Easy to apply
- Promotes plant health
JR Peter’s fertilizer for citrus trees and plants has the ideal NPK balance of 20-10-20 to provide the perfect combination of nutrients that are essential for the citrus plants.
With the help of the enhanced formula, your citrus trees can thrive rapidly and receive all the essential micronutrients that promote strong branches and vibrant colors.
This fertilizer is favored by professional gardeners for its high-quality care and nutrients, which effectively nourish your plants. Additionally, when used as instructed in the manual, it provides balanced nutrition to both the leaves and roots.
It’s reassuring to know that this product can be used with a variety of tropical plants, including Meyer lemons, other types of lemons and limes, grapefruit, oranges, kumquats, and mangos.
8. Organic Citrus Fertilizer by Eco Scraps
Highlighted Features
- All citrus plants
- Easy to apply
- Uniform feeding
- Great ingredients
- Organic gardening approved
As soon as you start using Eco Scraps organic citrus fertilizer, you can see the amazing results it can provide for types of plants such as citrus trees, grapes, fruit trees, and flowering vines.
The formula is designed to provide a clean, even, and easy application. Additionally, this product contains recycled leftovers from various stages of the food life cycle, and it can also be used in organic gardening.
Satisfied customers love what this product did for their citrus trees and plants and claim they’ve seen increased fruit yield only by using a sprinkle of this fertilizer.
Finally, according to some users, this product is not suitable for use around dogs, so it is recommended to keep your pet away when applying the fertilizer.
9. Southern Ag Citrus Fertilizer Spray
Highlighted Features
- Corrects deficiencies
- 16-ounces
- 5 balanced nutrients
- Large quantity discount
- Great for tropical fruits
The Southern Ag fertilizer is a great booster for all your citrus plants. It works in a way that helps prevent and correct various deficiencies that might cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Additionally, it contains great nutrients such as zinc and 4 others that help improve the plant’s overall health and condition.
This product contains 1.7% zinc, 1.2% iron, 1.2% manganese, 1.0% magnesium, and 4.1% sulfur. Thanks to this great combination, it can work wonders with citrus plants, mangoes, avocados, and many other tropical fruits.
The ideal application is up to 2 tbsp. for one gallon of spray. A piece of advice is to be cautious when using this product, as it can stain painted surfaces, masonry, and concrete. Additionally, it should not be mixed with other types of fertilizers or insecticides.
10. Lilly Miller Citrus Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- 4-pounds
- NPK 10-6-4
- Essential minerals
- USA product
- Great results & delicious fruit
Lilly Miller’s citrus fertilizer can do wonders for all your citrus trees and plants. It comes in a 4-pound bag and has an NPK ratio of 10-6-4.
The combination of the 5 essential minerals can help your plants grow healthy new leaves and start flowering very soon after the first application.
Moreover, it works with sickly plants that need a boost to help them thrive, and this product is just what they need to make this happen.
Whether you use it on your Meyer lemon, regular lemon, or citrus plant, the results will be noticeable and visible from the first application.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, we hope that we made some things clear for you and helped you understand how citrus plants grow and what they need to thrive.
As we have pointed out several times in our review, citrus plants require a high-quality fertilizer to be applied at the right time in order to develop healthy and abundant fruit.
The growing period, which occurs during the spring and summer months, is the best time to apply fertilizer, ideally every one to two months.
Moreover, during the winter and autumn months, fertilizing shouldn’t be skipped, but rather reduced to every two or three months.
Our article outlines the best fertilizer for citrus trees that you can find on Amazon, and our top pick suggestion is definitely the Miracle-Gro’s Shake ‘n Feed.
If you need a more affordable option, consider trying the Eco Scraps fertilizer.
Also, this product is made with organic ingredients and doesn’t contain manure.
Happy fertilizing!