Lemon trees are incredibly hardy and can grow to lofty heights both indoors and outdoors. While their exact growth stature heavily depends on the cultivar, a mature lemon tree can reach roughly 10-20 feet tall, with some varieties reaching as high as 30 feet. As with most fruits trees, lemon trees require abundant sunlight, warmth and well-draining soil in order to thrive. That being said, proper pruning, training and care can certainly help to keep trees smaller and more manageable.
When planted in ideal conditions, young lemon trees typically reach 6-10 feet tall within their first year and can potentially double in height within the next few years. In the wild, these naturally fast-growing trees are known to grow as tall as 60 feet, although they are rarely grown taller than 20 feet in more cultivation.
Besides occasional watering and fertilizing, lemon trees should also be pruned correctly every few years. Pruning helps to control tree size, encourage branching and promote larger, sweeter fruits. It’s recommended that owners prune trees when they are dormant, around early or late winter. It’s also important for owners to be certain that pruning does not lead to the removal of large limbs on a one-year-old or younger tree.
Another form of maintenance that helps to stimulate lemon tree growth is regular fertilization combined with proper soil drainage. One of the most important nutrients to help lemon trees reach their full growth potential is nitrogen. It not only helps to make the leaves greener, but it also helps to encourage full-size fruit.
Whether planted indoors or outdoors, once lemon trees have reached their maximum potential growth height, their development can start to decline. When this happens, it’s time to either pot the tree up or transplanted it into a larger container where it can continue to receive adequate light, warmth and water. When given the right care, a lemon tree can continue to produce fruit for years to come.
Different Varieties of Lemon Trees
Though there are several varieties of citron tree, the most popular kinds for growing indoors or in home gardens are the Meyer’s Lemon, the Eureka Lemon, the Ponderosa Lemon, and the Lisbon Lemon. Reaching heights of 10-20 feet, Meyer’s Lemons are one of the most popular varieties of lemon tree due to its sweet flavours. The Eureka Lemon, Ponderosa Lemon and Lisbon Lemon range from 12-20 feet.
Light Requirements for Lemon Tree Growth
In order to grow tall and strong, lemon trees thrive in the full sun. When choosing a location in the garden, make sure the space is receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. If planted indoors, location near a well-lit window is ideal or under a grow light for 12-14 hours each day.
How to Control the Height of a Lemon Tree
It’s easy to forget how quickly a lemon tree can grow from its nursery size to the size of an adult tree. To keep trees the desired height, one should regularly prune the tree. Pruning helps to control tree size, encourage branching and promote larger and sweeter fruits. Using a sharp pair of pruners, it’s important to not to remove large limbs from trees that are one-year-old or younger. Pruning also helps to encourage more fruits and to reduce overall tree size.
The Benefits of Pruning a Lemon Tree
Besides controlling the tree’s size and shape, pruning a lemon tree helps to eliminate dead and dying branches, leaves, and fruits; all of which can slow down the growth of the tree. Pruning also helps to promote larger and sweet fruits by trimming crowded branches and thinning the canopy of the tree. Not only that, but with more light penetration and air circulation, pruning helps to reduce pest and fungal problems.
How a Lemon Tree Can Be Used
With its hardy nature, a mature lemon tree will continue to produce tasty and sweet fruits for many years. Lemon trees can be harvested for their juice, rind and zest, perfect for flavouring dishes, making drinks, and preserving food. Not only that, but they are visually stunning and make perfect additions to almost any garden.
