It’s hard to beat the heady fragrance of lemon or orange blossoms. And who doesn’t love the idea of stepping outside to pick a beautiful, ripe piece of fruit? Yum. Citrus trees are evergreen, too. No wonder they are so popular with homeowners as yard trees. But will citrus trees hurt your artificial lawn?
It’s perfectly normal for citrus trees to drop leaves as part of their cycle of growth and replenishment. They also drop blossoms and developing fruit on a regular basis. There’s no need to worry – it’s a natural self-thinning process that ensures the tree can physically and nutritionally support the crop.
Fruit trees require vigilant clean-up
Citric acid will not stain your artificial grass. That’s one of the benefits of choosing superior quality synthetic turf such as the products we offer at Heavenly Greens. We’ve even tried to stain our products, but the grass stubbornly refuses to cooperate.
On the other hand, you don’t want to leave any tree’s droppings to accumulate on your grass, especially when it includes fruit as well as fallen leaves. The mess will be unsightly, and the fruit juice will become sticky, attracting unwanted insects and other bugs. Even though fake grass is designed to minimize the possibility of mold and mildew, leaving debris to decompose on the surface will encourage bacterial and fungal growth.
If you’re an organic gardener, you may already know that citric acid can be an excellent natural weed killer. So use the fallen fruit for that. Of course, when it comes to your artificial lawn, who cares? Faux grass doesn’t grow into the weed-fest that natural grass can become. (That’s not to say you won’t have a few weeds in the rest of your yard, though.)
Citrus trees are a great addition to any South Bay home
Whether you already have a citrus tree or two, or adding one is on your spring to-do list, this article from the Mercury-News is full of helpful how-to and tips. And, by the way, spring is the perfect time to plant your new tree.
What should you get? Sweet or tart, large or tiny, citrus comes in a flavor and color to suit every taste and size of yard. You can grow:
- Oranges
- Mandarins
- Lemons – including the coveted Meyer
- Limes
- Grapefruit
- Fancy citrus such as kumquats or calamondins (a mandarin x kumquat cross)
But don’t assume “an orange is an orange” when it comes to trees. Be sure you are buying a variety that is a good choice for our Bay Area micro-climates.
You can plant citrus trees within your artificial lawn, if you want, with the fake grass extending right up close to the trunk. But remember that trees grow. You’ll also need to water the tree while it becomes established and during unusually dry periods to keep it hydrated and healthy. You could water right through your artificial lawn, thanks to its excellent drainage capabilities, but citrus trees require regular feeding, too.
Therefore, it will be easier to care for your tree and keep the ground under it clean if you leave a grass-free space around it. Or choose a different location for it – around the perimeter of your lawn, for instance. You can also grow dwarf varieties in large containers on your patio. Citrus trees prefer full sun, preferably out of the wind. Wherever you place yours, try to pick a spot near a window so you can enjoy the fragrant blossoms.
