Dwarf citrus, like Meyer Lemon trees are especially suited for container growing as they can be kept at manageable sizes. Container growing allows gardeners to overcome poor soil conditions or limited space in a landscape. We keep our Meyer Lemon tree on our balcony away from windy conditions, but in a sunny spot.   Our tree currently has several small “lima bean” sized lemons on it.  Hopefully we get at least a few lemons this year!  We are currently in planting zone 10, but check the USDA planting zone for your area.   The lemon pictured was on the tree when we bought it.  We used that lemon on fish, but will definetely use our future lemons in a yummy desert.  Our neighbor has a beautiful lemon tree in his yard, but we have limited space, so containers work for us.

When repotting your citrus tree, do not start with a pot that is too large.  Pots that are too large make soil moisture levels harder to control with young/small trees. Be sure your container drains freely!  Drill more holes in the bottom of your pot if you are unsure.   Use a 12-14″ container for a 2-3 year tree, and as the tree grows, increase the container size to a 16-20″ diameter pot.  Citrus trees require soil that is moist but never soggy.  Check the root level to make sure it is not wet before watering.  We also keep our pots elevated a few inches on rollers so we don’t cause permanant water ring stains on our deck, and it also makes the tree more mobile if your need to move it in cooler weather.  Yellowing leaves indicate lack of fertilizer or poor drainage.