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We planted a lemon tree five and a half years ago. Today it's about the exact same size as ever.

enter image description here

I've tried using citrus fertilizer, but to no avail. We've had dry summers and wet summers, but nothing changes. I'm in Melbourne, Australia

What's going on? Is there anything else I should tell you?

Ambo100
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Rick Measham
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    Is that mulch or grass at the bottom of it? If grass, consider [mulching](http://www.ehow.com/list_6499432_tips-mulching-citrus-trees.html). – Ed Staub Nov 10 '11 at 19:10
  • Do you prune it? The branch in the back right looks like it was cut off. Is it a dwarf variety? – bstpierre Nov 10 '11 at 20:42
  • @EdStaub: It's grass. Any particular mulch? How far out? – Rick Measham Nov 11 '11 at 02:09
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    @bstpierre: I believe my wife has pruned it in a psychological battle to convince it to put in some effort. I don't believe it's a dwarf variety, but it was a house-warming gift. I don't remember the tag saying it was a dwarf, but that's a looooong time ago. – Rick Measham Nov 11 '11 at 02:11
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    Rick, I've never grown a lemon outside of a pot - it's far too cold here - so the most I feel I should do is point you at other writing. See the link in my earlier comment. They say pine needle mulch is best. I'm hoping someone with real experience will answer! – Ed Staub Nov 11 '11 at 04:03
  • My lemon tree does the same thing, not growing and with yellowing around the leaf edges! Hoped to find a solution in the internet. I stay in Johannesburg, South Africa. The tree is planted close to a wall and receives sunshine 50% of the day. At the back of the wall grows a number of tall trees. I have often wondered if the lemon tree does not find itself in competition with the roots of the tall trees? I add an organic fertilizer and compost to the soil every year, but the tree does not seem to respond. –  Oct 03 '13 at 15:10

2 Answers2

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I would suggest:

  1. Lack of sunlight

    I notice it's right next to a fence corner and suspect there's not enough sunlight getting through to this one for it to thrive. I'm not sure what to suggest as a solution for that.

  2. Possible magnesium deficiency (pretty common in Australian citrus trees) or some other mineral deficiency in soil

    I also notice, on close inspection of the picture, that there is a leaf which has the classic yellowed edging typically associated with magnesium or zinc deficiency.

    Yellow-edged citrus leaves

    I found out just a few months ago after asking what was causing the yellow leaves on our tree here:

    Are you absolutely positive it's getting the nutrients it needs via the citrus fertiliser you used? Perhaps that leaf I'm looking at is an anomaly.

  3. Genetically determined dwarfism

    On reflection, if neither of the above make sense, and given how fecund and otherwise healthy this tree of yours looks, I really start to think @bstpierre might be right in thinking you've got a genetic dwarf, whether or not it was labelled as such.

  4. Lack of environmental stimulus to grow/reproduce (highly unlikely)

    Another obscure possibility, which I find hard to believe but I have heard ABC talkback radio (Adelaide) gardener Jon Lamb mention at least twice, is that if you give a plant really optimal conditions it just "enjoys life" rather than competing by growing tall or producing fruit in order to pass on its genes before it dies. If you have really paid attention to the tree and done soil tests and whatnot to be sure there's no mineral deficiency then this may be the (admittedly bizzare) answer. Given that you said your wife already tried pruning it though, I really do doubt it.

Lisa
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Even a Meyer lemon will grow 12-15 feet high: since you have full size fruit on your apparently 4 foot tree, you definitely have a hybrid that will only grow about 4 inches/year versus a Ponderosa lemon that will average a foot/per year. However; any vegitation growing above the root spread will rob it of both nitrogen & nutrients. You'll notice a slight growth acceleration by clearing & controlling that area. Don't mulch: Just compost a 2" top layer per year, but no closer than 6" from the stump. Fresh wooded mulch robs the tree of nitrogen & nutrients ... until it decomposes to compost after 2-3 years ! Max sun light is essential but not critical for standard size fruit trees. However; dwarfs easily tolerate a minimum of 6 hours of mid day sun.