If you're planning to grow citrus trees in Louisiana, there are a few important steps to ensure your trees thrive. By understanding your local climate, planning for cold protection, and making practical decisions, you can help your citrus trees withstand the challenges of colder weather:

1. Understanding Your Local Climate: Research the average minimum temperatures in your area and stay informed about upcoming weather conditions. This will help you determine the level of cold protection needed for your citrus trees.
2. Planning for Cold Protection: Develop a strategy that includes both passive methods, such as selecting cold-tolerant varieties and planting in sheltered locations, and active methods like using protective coverings to shield trees during cold snaps.
3. Making Practical Decisions for Easier Cold Protection: Consider growing citrus in containers, which allows you to move the plants into a protected space during cold weather. Pruning your trees is essential to make covering them easier and to maintain their health.

By following these steps, you can create a more resilient environment for your citrus trees. Let's explore each of these points in more detail to ensure you have all the information you need to protect your trees effectively.

Understanding Your Local Climate

Depending on where you are located in Louisiana, the yearly low temperatures can vary greatly. For practical purposes, the state can be divided into three citrus regions: North, Central, and South.

1. Northern Louisiana: Areas in the northern part of the state can frequently experience temperatures that will damage citrus trees. However, there are a few niche selections that can survive and thrive in this region. It's important to choose cold-hardy varieties and implement robust protection strategies. This region can regularly experience temperatures that drop below 20°F (-6.7°C) during cold fronts. Temperatures can fall even lower, occasionally reaching around 15°F (-9.4°C) during severe cold fronts.
2. Central Louisiana: This intermediate production region can experience weather conditions that regularly damage citrus trees, but not to the extent that growing them is discouraged altogether. With proper planning and protection, citrus trees can be successfully grown here. Average minimum temperatures in Central Louisiana typically range from 28°F (-2.2°C) to 43°F (6°C). During severe cold fronts, temperatures can drop to around 25°F (-3.9°C).
3. Southern and Coastal Louisiana: Southern and coastal areas (Opelousas down) are generally better suited for citrus cultivation. These regions are less likely to experience damaging cold weather, though occasional cold events can still severely impact plants. Even in these areas, it's crucial to be prepared for unexpected cold snaps. Average minimum temperatures in Southern and Coastal Louisiana are usually above 37°F (2.8°C). The lowest temperatures in this region can occasionally drop to around 30°F (-1.1°C) during cold snaps.

Before investing heavily in citrus trees, consider your location and plan accordingly. Weather is dynamic and fluid, and unusual weather events can occur in any region. For example, portions of Southern Louisiana have experienced extreme temperatures as low as 9°F (-12.8°C) during rare weather events.

Planning for Cold Protection

When considering cold protection, it is important to incorporate both passive and active protection methods. Passive protection methods include growing location and cultivar selection, while common active protection methods involve covering plants and providing supplemental heat.

Passive Protection Methods

The first passive method to consider is growing location. After determining the expected temperatures based on your location in the state, assess your unique growing environment. Trees are more likely to be long-lived and productive when grown in a sheltered environment. Trees closer to your home are more likely to be sheltered from winds and catch some residual heat. Generally, trees should be planted on the southern side of a fence or structure to maximize wind and cold protection, but this may vary based on your local topography and tree lines.

The second passive factor to consider is cultivar and species selection. Not all citrus is created equal, with some being able to tolerate more cold than others. Kumquats and Satsumas tend to have the most cold tolerance, while Sweet Oranges, Calamondins, and Grapefruit have intermediate cold tolerance. Tangerines, Tangelos, Lemons, and Limes are very sensitive to cold temperatures. These resistances and tolerances should be reflected in your growing choices based on your location in the state:

• Northern region: Kumquats, Satsumas
• Central region: Calamondins, Grapefruit, Kumquats, Satsumas, Sweet Oranges
• Southern region: Calamondins, Grapefruit, Kumquats, Lemons, Limes, Satsumas, Sweet Oranges, Tangerines, Tangelos

Active Protection Methods

For active cold protection, be prepared to cover your citrus for short periods during the winter months, regardless of your location in the state. It is important to know how to cover your citrus properly. When done incorrectly, protective coverings provide little to no benefit, but if done properly, they can ensure your citrus survives. The goal of covering is to trap heat, especially ground heat. The covering should go all the way to the ground and form a half-sphere. The ground under the sphere will "share" its heat in that trapped space.

There may be times when ground heat is not sufficient. In those situations, you will want to add more heat. The easiest and safest way to do so is with lights. Avoid using LEDs as they do not produce as much heat. Also, watch your trees closely. They can get too hot, which can stress the plants or cause them to grow prematurely. You may need to uncover them between cold events to prevent overheating.

Making Practical Decisions for Easier Cold Protection

Two strategies that can make it much easier to protect your citrus from freezing temperatures are pruning and growing them in containers.

Pruning

It can be difficult to adequately cover large, mature citrus trees when they need cold protection. Pruning your trees to a height that can be reached by hand ensures that you can cover them when needed. An added benefit is that you will be able to reach all the fruit, preventing some of it from going to waste by being inaccessible. When kept at a more manageable height, trees can also be trained to have more of an umbrella or live oak shape, which can help trap ground heat. Prune your citrus trees in late winter or early spring before new growth starts to minimize stress. Focus on removing dead or diseased branches, thinning out crowded areas, and shaping the canopy to allow for better air circulation and light penetration.

Growing in Containers

Growing citrus in containers can be a great option for those with limited space or who experience colder temperatures more frequently, such as in the Northern and Central parts of the state. The benefit of using containers is the ability to move the plants to a protected space during cold weather. However, if you forget to move them, they are more prone to cold injury since the roots are not insulated by the ground. Choose a container that is large enough to accommodate the tree's root system, typically a 15-20 gallon container. Keep in mind that larger containers can be heavy and may require assistance to move. Container-grown citrus trees may need more frequent watering than those planted in the ground, so ensure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Regularly fertilize your container-grown citrus with a balanced fertilizer to ensure they receive the necessary nutrients.

For added ornamental appeal, consider growing varieties like variegated lemons, calamondins, or kumquats. These not only provide delicious fruit but also add a decorative touch to your garden with their unique foliage and vibrant colors. Additionally, look for citrus trees grafted onto dwarfing or semi-dwarf rootstocks. These rootstocks help keep the trees more manageable in containers and prevent them from outgrowing their space

Conclusion

Growing citrus trees in Louisiana can be a rewarding endeavor, but it requires careful planning and protection strategies to ensure success. By understanding your local climate, planning for cold protection, and making practical decisions, you can help your citrus trees thrive even in challenging weather conditions. Addressing these factors will create a more resilient environment for your citrus trees, ensuring they remain healthy and productive. With the right knowledge and preparation, your citrus trees can flourish, providing you with delicious fruit and a beautiful addition to your garden

Calamondin

Pink Lemonade