The navel orange

Sadly one of our citrus trees is succumbing to greening disease and had to be taken down. Last winter, I noticed a few small oranges fell to the ground before ripening and one branch showed signs of chlorosis. I fed the tree and hoped for the best.

This winter, the condition is markedly worse. Many branches have chlorosis, and more than half of the oranges are small and green. The oranges that did mature and ripen have brown stains on them. After consulting my neighbor who is knowledgeable about citrus, I realized she is right and that I need to take down the tree. Insects will spread the disease to other trees and it will eventually die. There is no cure, only stop gap measures.

I cut off the branches down to the main trunk. Then I set about excavating and cutting the roots. The tree was about ten years old and the roots were well established. Bob helped me with the axe. We were almost finished, with just a couple of roots underneath the trunk to cut, when the thunder and rain started from a big storm that is moving through the southeast. I was concerned about the thunder and tools getting slippery, so I called it off. There stands the branchless trunk, a sad sight, more than half dug up. It will have to wait until the storm is past. 

This navel orange was the third citrus tree I planted, and it is closest to the street and therefore more vulnerable. The other citrus are near the house. Two ponkan tangerines, a red navel orange, and two grapefruit trees haven't shown any sign of infection, another reason to deal with the diseased tree sooner rather than later. 

I might plant something else there, but not right away. I feel too sad that I couldn't save the tree.