Overview
- Media guidance this early September urges gardeners to prepare lemon trees for spring by following INTA’s recommended pruning window from July to October and limiting deep cuts while frost risk persists.
- Experts say fertilization must be planned by soil and crop needs and strictly dosed to avoid root burn, with compost or citrus-formulated products applied according to label instructions.
- Irrigation should be increased gradually as temperatures rise to keep substrate moisture without waterlogging, with simple checks such as the 'finger test' (3–4 cm) recommended for home growers.
- Some nursery practitioners promote a controlled two-week drought followed by abundant watering and phosphorus-calcium fertiliser—the '15-day' stress method—to stimulate bloom, but this technique lacks formal validation and should be used cautiously.
- SENASA reminds growers that HLB is incurable and legally notifiable, so sourcing plants from certified nurseries and inspecting leaves for asymmetrical yellowing are key prevention steps that protect both crops and local trade.