Arizona Citrus Trees

Looking over an orchard filled with fresh citrus trees can make your mouth water. And the thought of growing citrus trees in your own backyard can make you drool, especially when you don't have to move to the South to succeed. Rebecca Kolls visits the largest citrus tree nursery in the Southwest. In the historic Lehi Valley area of Arizona, the Greenfield Citrus Nursery boasts more that 50 varieties of luscious fruit-bearing trees. Owner John Babiarz gives some simple steps to success.

Anyone can grow these trees, but if you live in a cold climate, you'll need to put them in a pot and bring them indoors when frost is threatening. The best location is sunny, with sandy or well-drained soil.

Choose a tree
When choosing a tree to plant, consider a younger, smaller tree with no fruit. Once the tree starts to produce fruit, the whole system slows down. Also, the weight of the fruit could break the branches as you move the tree. So if the tree has fruit, pick it off, because what you're really buying are the leaves and the roots. Look for a symmetrical tree that's lush and green, without any signs of stress.

Dig a hole
To plant a citrus tree, the first thing you need to do is dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. If you plant the tree too low, the trunk will stay wet and rot. If it's planted too high, the root ball will dry out, leaving your tree dehydrated.

Put the tree in the hole
Typically you'll find trees at a nursery either in a plastic container or as ball-and-burlap. If your tree has a plastic container, cut the bottom off, set it down and take the container off. If it has burlap, lay the tree on its side and roll it into the hole, positioning it straight up. Use a knife or scissors to cut the twine from the root ball and gently pull the tar paper off.

Now you're ready to backfill the hole. You'll want to fill the hole until it is about halfway full. Then pack in the soil with the back of your shovel. This will help anchor the tree. Continue filling the hole, stopping just an inch or two shy of the top. Now you can add amendments such as fertilizer, sulfur or gypsum.