How to grow Lemon Tree
Updated October 2026
A lemon tree crops on and off through much of the year and suits warm gardens in Florida, the Gulf Coast, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii, or a large pot almost anywhere. Meyer lemon is the hardiest and easiest choice for home gardens, and in citrus quarantine areas trees must come from a licensed local nursery.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Lemon Tree
Where to plant
Plant lemons in full sun, sheltered from cold wind, in well-drained soil. Citrus will not tolerate waterlogged roots. Keep them at least 15 feet from other trees and well clear of buildings, septic tanks and drain fields.
Lemons are among the more frost-sensitive citrus. Where freezes come every few years, choose Meyer lemon and the warmest spot you have, such as the south side of a building, and be ready to cover young trees. Texas A&M AgriLife notes that the length of a freeze matters more than the lowest temperature.
- Central and South Florida: UF/IFAS does not recommend true lemons such as Eureka and Lisbon for Florida home gardens because they are very prone to citrus scab. Meyer lemon is a reasonable substitute.
- North Florida and the Gulf South: Meyer lemon is the hardiest choice. Plant after the last frost in your warmest spot and cover young trees on freeze nights.
- Texas: grow Meyer lemon in a large pot or against a warm south wall, and protect it when temperatures drop below about 25°F.
- Southern and Northern California and the Desert Southwest: plant in spring after frost, or in fall in mild areas.
- Hawaii: grows outdoors.
- Colder regions: grow a dwarf tree in a container and bring it inside for winter.
Choosing a variety
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Meyer | A lemon hybrid with thin-skinned, juicy, less sour fruit; the most cold tolerant lemon and the best for pots and for Florida and the Gulf |
| Eureka | A standard true lemon; prone to scab in humid Florida |
| Lisbon | A standard true lemon; also prone to scab in Florida |
| Ponderosa | Huge, thick-skinned fruit; a curiosity rather than a main lemon |
Buy a grafted, certified tree from a licensed nursery in your own state. Citrus plants must not be moved out of areas quarantined for citrus greening.
How to plant
- Plant a container-grown tree at the same soil level it grew in its pot. Remove some potting mix from the outside of the root ball so the roots grow out into the soil.
- Make a ring of soil around the tree as a watering basin that holds 5 to 10 gallons.
- Fill the basin twice a week for the first month, then water whenever new growth wilts in the afternoon.
- Keep grass and weeds away from the trunk, and keep any mulch at least a foot from the trunk to prevent foot rot.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees often while they establish. Established trees need deep watering in dry spells, especially from flowering through fruit growth; Texas A&M AgriLife suggests about 1 to 2 inches a week in the growing season in southern Texas. Never keep the soil soggy.
Start feeding about three weeks after planting with a balanced citrus fertilizer with micronutrients, roughly every six weeks from February to October in the first year in Florida, then fewer, larger feeds as the tree grows. Spread it under and beyond the canopy, never against the trunk.
Pruning and care through the year
- Remove shoots from below the graft; they come from the rootstock.
- Lemons need little pruning. Remove dead wood and water sprouts and keep the tree to a size you can pick and cover.
- Before a hard freeze, water the soil a few days ahead, pull back mulch, and cover young trees to the ground with frost cloth or blankets.
- Check new growth often for Asian citrus psyllid and report suspected citrus greening to your state department of agriculture or extension office.
Harvesting
Pick lemons when they reach full size, are juicy and colored for their variety. They hold on the tree for weeks, so pick as needed. UF/IFAS lists the main lemon season in Florida as July to December.
Growing in pots
Meyer lemon and dwarf lemons on dwarfing rootstock do well in large containers with drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix. Potted citrus dry out and run out of nutrients faster than trees in the ground, so water often in summer and feed lightly but regularly. Bring pots into a bright, cool, frost-free spot for winter.
Companion planting
Citrus do best with the area under the canopy kept clear of grass and weeds.
Good companions
- Comfrey Its leaves can be cut and laid near the drip line as mulch, kept away from the trunk; it is hard to remove once planted.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to lemon tree.
- Lawn and weeds Grass and weeds compete with citrus roots and, at the trunk, can promote foot rot.
Pests and diseases
Citrus greening, spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, is the serious threat. In humid Florida, citrus scab is the main reason true lemons are not recommended.
Pests to watch for
- Asian citrus psyllid Tiny mottled brown insects feeding head down on new shoots; nymphs leave white, waxy strands. They spread citrus greening.
- Leaf miner Silvery, winding trails in young leaves, which curl and distort.
- Scale Small bumps on twigs and leaves with sticky honeydew and black sooty mold.
Diseases to watch for
- Citrus greening (HLB) Blotchy, uneven yellowing of leaves and small, lopsided, poorly colored fruit. There is no cure.
- Citrus scab Raised, corky, warty scabs on young fruit and leaves, worst in humid weather.
- Melanose Small, raised, rough brown specks on fruit and leaves, spread from dead twigs.
- Citrus canker Raised, corky lesions with yellow halos on leaves, twigs and fruit; report suspected cases.
Common questions
Which lemon is best for Florida?
Meyer lemon. UF/IFAS does not recommend true lemons such as Eureka and Lisbon for Florida home gardens because they are very susceptible to citrus scab in humid weather.
Can I grow a lemon tree in a pot?
Yes. Choose Meyer or a dwarf lemon, a large pot with drainage, and free-draining mix. Water and feed more often than a tree in the ground, and bring it indoors before frost in cold regions.
Can I buy a lemon tree online from another state?
Often not. USDA rules restrict moving citrus plants out of areas quarantined for citrus greening, and states have their own citrus quarantines. Buy a certified tree from a licensed nursery in your own state.
How cold can a lemon tree take?
Lemons are among the more cold-sensitive citrus. Meyer is the hardiest. Texas A&M AgriLife advises protecting Meyer lemons when temperatures drop below about 25°F, and notes that long freezes do more harm than short ones.
Why are my lemons covered in corky bumps?
That is most likely citrus scab, a fungal disease that is common in humid climates such as Florida. It marks the skin but the fruit inside is usually fine.
When should I feed my lemon tree?
In Florida, from February through October. Young trees get small feeds about every six weeks; established trees get a few larger feeds a year. Use a citrus fertilizer with micronutrients.
Should I mulch my lemon tree?
UF/IFAS does not recommend mulch around citrus in Florida. If you use it, keep it at least a foot from the trunk, and pull it back before a freeze.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS EDIS: Citrus Culture in the Home Landscape (HS132); UF/IFAS Extension Levy County: Citrus for North Florida; USDA APHIS: Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid; UF/IFAS EDIS: Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (IN160); Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Bexar County: Growing Your Own Citrus.
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