Oranges & lemons

Ornamental as well as good to eat, a happy citrus is a win-win proposition for your garden

- chloe thomson

Every Aussie garden needs a citrus tree or two and I'm sure I can help you find one to suit any sunny spot at your place.

Citruses can be planted into any space with a full-sun aspect and well-drained soil. They'll happily grow in all areas of Australia - except those with really heavy frosts.

If growing in pots or planters is your only option, look for a dwarf or espaliered citrus tree. These have been grafted onto dwarfing rootstock so they'll produce full-sized fruit on pint-sized plants.

There are even citrus plants with several varieties grafted onto a single rootstock, giving you a medley of zesty crops from a single plant.

A hard-working and happy citrus tree is just as ornamental as it is productive, so it's a worthy addition to your garden.

If you've got the space to grow more than one tree, you can spread out their harvest times by choosing varieties that crop early, mid and late season.

GROWING

Choose a full-sun spot in a rich yet free-draining soil that's sheltered from really strong winds. Add compost to improve the soil before planting.

If drainage is an issue, mound up the soil 30-40cm above ground level and plant into this mound. Citrus prefers a soil with a pH of 6-7.5, so apply lime if your soil is too acidic.