Meyer Lemon Leaves Turning Yellow - Cause and Treatment

Meyer lemon trees usually have deep green leaves, so when the leaves start turning yellow, it means something is wrong with the plant.

I once had the same issue in my garden. The tree was flowering well, but the leaves looked pale, and the fruit production was very low.
After observing the plant and making a few changes, the tree slowly recovered and started growing healthier again.

So I started checking the plant closely and tried a few changes in the garden. Here are the most common causes and the simple things that helped me fix the problem.

Poor Soil Condition

The first thing I checked was the soil around the tree. And unfortunately, it was dry, sandy, and low in organic matter. Soil like this cannot hold nutrients or moisture very well.

So, to improve the soil, I added:

1. Compost
2. Aged manure
3. Organic mulch

I spread about 2–3 inches of compost around the tree and covered it with mulch. This slowly improved the soil quality and helped the roots absorb nutrients better.

Lack of Nutrients

After improving the soil, I realized the tree also needed proper feeding. Lemon trees use a lot of nutrients when they are growing and producing flowers.

If the soil does not have enough nutrients, the leaves lose their dark green color and start turning pale yellow.

What I Did

I applied a citrus fertilizer around the drip line of the tree and watered it deeply.

After about 2–3 weeks, I got new leaves that were green and healthy.

I Changed My Watering Method

Earlier, I used to water the plant lightly and very often, but that was not good for citrus trees.

So I changed my watering habit and started watering deeply once or twice a week instead of giving small amounts of water.

And trust me, deep watering helped the roots grow stronger, and the plant looked much healthier.

Iron Deficiency

If you see leaves turning yellow but the veins are still green, it usually means the lemon tree is not getting enough iron.

What You Can Do

You can add chelated iron to the soil around the tree, then water the soil well. This helps the roots absorb the iron easily.

After making these changes, my Meyer lemon tree slowly got better. New leaves came out green and healthy, and the plant started growing stronger again.

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