Plant guide:ð Lemon Tree
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Growth
Cold Damage and Frost Injury on Lemon Tree
Commonly affects: Citrus limon (Lemon Tree)
Leaves develop water-soaked, curled, or blackened patches after cold exposure, and severe frost can kill branches or the whole tree.
Potential Causes
- 1Exposure to temperatures below the tree's cold tolerance, since lemon trees are among the least cold-hardy common citrus
- 2Sudden unexpected cold snaps without protection for outdoor or patio-grown trees
- 3Cold drafts affecting indoor-grown trees kept too close to a window or door in winter
Solution Steps
- 1Move container-grown trees indoors or to a sheltered spot before expected frost
- 2Cover outdoor plantings with frost cloth during unexpected cold snaps in marginal climates
- 3Keep indoor trees away from cold drafts and windows in winter
- 4Prune away severely damaged branches once the danger has passed, but wait to assess full extent of damage before cutting extensively
Prevention Tip
Lemon trees have very little frost tolerance compared to hardier citrus like some mandarins â bring container trees inside well before the first frost of autumn.
