If you are wondering whether or not you should pollinate your lemon tree, the answer is yes – but only if you want a great yield of lemons. Pollination will increase the number of lemons your tree produces and help to ensure there are no misshapen fruit. It is not a difficult task and it can be done with one of two different methods.
Bees
The use of bees to pollinate your lemon tree often yields the best results. Bees are able to access places that you may not be able to and they also move in a more precise manner which helps to ensure that every flower is fertilised. To ensure the maximum number of bees visit your tree, you should place bee houses near the tree – that way they can access the tree and then return to the bee house to get their food.
Hand Pollination
If you don’t want to use bees to pollinate your lemon tree, you can do it yourself. All you need to do is take a small paintbrush, dip it into one of the flowers and then brush it around the other flowers on the tree. This will ensure that the latter flowers are also fertilised, producing more fruit.
Timing
The best time to pollinate each tree is during the flowering season, which is usually between the months of April and August. However, this can vary greatly depending on your location and the time of year. It is important to watch out for the signs that the tree is flowering; this will tell you when it is time to pollinate.
Frequency
It is important to pollinate your lemon tree regularly in order to get the best yields and to ensure that no flowers are unloved and ignored. You can pollinate the tree every week or two and the results should start to show within the following couple of weeks.
Tools
You don’t need many tools to pollinate your lemon tree, just a paintbrush and a little bit of care. If you choose to use bees, then you will also need some bee houses.
Benefits
When you pollinate your lemon tree, you can expect it to bear more fruit, with larger sizes and better shape due to even pollination. This should lead to larger yields and fewer misshapen lemons.
Expert Care
It is always a good idea to consult an expert before you start pollinating your lemon tree. An expert can help you understand the best way to pollinate and what to watch out for. They can also give you advice on the best times and frequencies for pollination, as well as, offer advice on any other problems you may have with your tree.
Preparing the Tree
To prepare your tree for pollination, you can prune off any old or dead branches and prune off any unfertilised flowers. This will help ensure that the tree is healthy and ready to accept pollination.
Organic Pollination
Organic pollination is a great way to ensure that the trees get the best amount of pollination without the addition of any chemicals or fertilisers. This means that you will get the best yields in terms of size and quality of the fruit.
Weather
Be sure to watch the weather closely when you are pollinating your lemon tree. Windy days can lead to flowers drying up and not being able to accept the pollen, and hot days may prevent the pollen from sticking to the flowers.
Native Pollinators
Honey bees and native pollinators are great for getting the best yields from your lemon tree. If you are able to, attract some local pollinators by planting more flowering plants around your tree as this will help increase your yields.
