If you’re considering growing citrus trees, you must understand how they develop and what they need.
Firstly, they’re heavy feeders and they need to be fed with the right fertilizer to develop healthy flowers with juicy fruits.
On the other hand, if you don’t provide them with the right feeding options their growth will become 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 enough nitrogen and potassium or a balanced NPK ratio fertilizer can also do the job.
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 fertilizer 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 that are either young or established plus, it contains all the essential ingredients to provide optimum growth.
This fertilizer can feed the tree up to 3 months and when used appropriately in accordance with the instructions it provides great results and doesn’t cause plant burnt.
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 a more affordable option, then you can try out the Eco Scraps fertilizer.
It comes in a 4-pounds bag and provides a uniform feeding for your citrus plants. This product can be used with different 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’s 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 nitrogen high fertilizer however, besides these main ingredients make sure the fertilizer 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 fertilizing is essential to help the tree produce many fruits and improve the yield.
The perfect time for applying fertilizer is in its active growing months. It’s best to apply once every month or two in summer and spring.
In autumn and winter months during the dormant period, it’s recommended to apply the fertilizer every two or 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 follow your plant’s overall condition and be aware of when’s 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 ones 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 big difference in what type of fertilizer you choose because they all work great. The only difference is that fast-release fertilizers require a more frequent application.
According to the type of nutrients they provide, they can be divided into:
- Organic citrus fertilizers
- Inorganic citrus fertilizers
The difference between these two types is obviously in the ingredients. The organic fertilizer is made of organic materials derived from nature, while the chemical fertilizer is made with synthetically created materials.
Depending on your preference, needs and budget you can choose either one although our preference is always an organic option.
Furthermore, according to their form, citrus fertilizers can be divided into:
- Granular
- Liquid
- Spike
There’s no special rule what type of fertilizer to choose and it all depends on your preference and the time you have to spare. For the specific requirements and methods of using, you can go through our detailed review section and get the product that suits you best.
How to Grow Healthy Citrus Trees?
Citrus plants are a tropical crop and they are best grown with the help of fertilizers, warm temperatures, and close monitoring and protection of 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 to provide a good quality yield and our recommendation is to have a strict watering schedule because this will ensure a good 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 feeding
- No burning
- Easy to use
This amazing product by Miracle-Gro can help you take care of and feed all your existing or 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 feeding of up to 3 months and the formula doesn’t cause any plant burn – if applied according to the instructions.
You can use this product year after year and the best way to apply is once during the growing season and then, two weeks later another dose. 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-pounds bottle and can be used immediately without any preparation.
Newbie gardeners can use it without a problem, plus the easy-spill bottle top provides easy 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’sbiozome that’s specially made to provide all the necessary nutrients and encourage healthy growth and high yield.
Moreover, it can be used with different 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 the fact that it improves the quality of the soil as well as 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 pets.
3. Espoma Citrus-tone Fertilizer
Highlighted Features
- All-natural & organic
- Ideal for citrus plants
- Encourages tree growth
- 4-pounds bag
- Provides balanced feeding
The 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 specially made for citrus plants and it provides balanced feeding which in turn improves the yield.
What’s more, you can be certain this product does exactly what it’s advertised for and your lemon trees will simply 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 any product’s value and Espoma’s clients say they’ve been using the product for years and 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 exists since 1977 that’s always tried to be on the side of the environment by manufacturing products that comply with the rules for organic growth.
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-pounds box and it has a balanced formula of 6-3-3 that’s ideal to encourage optimum growth.
Moreover, as an OMRI listed product, the fertilizer is safe to be used in organic production. It’s good to know that it contains a lot of great ingredients such as calcium, zinc, iron and sulfur which are important to 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 idle season.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about using the product around your kids, pets since it doesn’t contain any harmful materials that can cause any harm.
Thanks to the premium organic formula this product acts on the development of the leaves and color of different types of plants and without a doubt your citrus plants will love this product.
Additionally, this product is really easy to apply since it doesn’t require any mixing, measuring, or preparation and you won’t feel the usual fertilizer smell that can be quite annoying.
Earthworm’s proprietary formula can help you grow healthy plants in no time, because they contain 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 just once in spring and then once during 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 fruits than ever.
Since this is a spike-type fertilizer it’s very easy to apply. You just need to prepare the spike and add it to the drip line of the tree. With the help of the plastic cap push the spike in the soil, which has to be wet before application and then just remove the plastic cup and use 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 very fast and receive all of those good micronutrients that promote strong branches and vibrant colors.
This fertilizer is loved by professional gardeners since it delivers professional and top-notch care and nutrients for your hungry plants plus, if used as instructed in the manual it feeds the plants through the leaves and roots.
It’s good to know that this product can be used with tropical plants such as 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 made in such a way that it provides a clean, equal and easy application. Additionally, this product contains recycled leftovers from various phases of the life cycle of food and it can be used in organic gardening as well.
Satisfied customers simply 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 to be used around dogs so try 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 which 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 and thanks to this great combination it can do magic 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 careful when using this product since it can stain painted surfaces, masonry and concrete and never mix it 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 Miler’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 to 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 for your Meyer lemon, regular lemon or citrus plant the results will be very fast and visible from the first take.
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 pointed out a few times in our review, citrus plants require a quality fertilizer to be applied at the right time in order to develop healthy and plentiful fruits.
The growing period during the spring and summer months is the best one to apply fertilizer – as often as every one to two months.
Moreover, during the winter and autumn months fertilizing shouldn’t be skipped, but lowered 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, then you can try out the Eco Scraps fertilizer.
Also, this product is made with organic ingredients and doesn’t contain manure.
Happy fertilizing!