Need advice on possibly diseased orange trees

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sandi32 San Diego, CA Apr 27, 2009

I am desperately seeking answers and possible solutions to a problem I am having and would greatly appreciate any help in the matter. I started a backyard landscaping project and know exactly what I want to do with my backyard to make it look better. My problem is two citrus (orange) trees. I have been trimming the citrus trees only to discover that they may be diseased. The oranges get brown and die before they are ripe enough to eat and a lot of the leaves are brown and have dried up and fallen off, leaving large areas with bare branches. Also, about three-fourths of both trees have this black, oily substance all over the leaves, fruit and branches and what looks like spider webs on the leaves and branches. I have been trying to prune the areas that seem to be affected but it is a never ending battle. I am wondering if anyone knows what could be wrong with the trees and if there is a solution to the problem. I would have the trees removed but it is a rental and there is only so much I can do. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you all may have.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Apr 27, 2009

You might try cutting off some leaves and twigs and fruit that show some of those symptoms and take it in to your county extension office, they'd probably be in the best position to know what it is and what to do about it. Sounds to me like you may have a few different problems going on--if you can get closeups of some of these symptoms you could post them here, but even if you do that I think it's still worth taking some samples to the extension office.

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JasperDale Long Beach, CA(Zone 10a) May 05, 2009

Citrus trees can be difficult to garden under due to their water requirements and they don't really like things planted directly under them. Constantly disturbing their roots, by changing out plants (annuals, etc.) can stress the tree. They also prefer infrequent deep waterings as opposed to shallow more frequent watering.

Yours may have a combination of mealybugs and spider mites as well as some sort of mold on the foliage.

Some orange trees reach a point where they just get old and stop producing decent fruit and go into decline. This may be what is wrong with yours. Hard to tell from the photo how old yours is.

Difficult to say exactly what these various issues on yours are without close up photo's or knowing what your soil condition is.

Your drying fruit may also be the result of lack of water for the tree.

Try posting this in the Fruit and Nuts forum...someone more knowledgeable over there may have better advice for you.

This message was edited May 5, 2009 7:17 AM

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