growing citrus in charleston

Last week, we hosted Citrus 101 with Zack Snipes from Clemson Extension. Zack shared insight from his 8 years of research at Clemson’s Coastal Research and Education Center and helped attendees troubleshoot their citrus issues. We talked about everything from pruning and fertilizing to how to protect your citrus from the cold. Keep reading to learn more about growing citrus in Charleston!

Citrus Production

Wondering what your citrus should be doing in mid march? We know it can be confusing when the citrus in plant stores are already covered in leaves and blooms. But remember, retail plants are most likely sourced from greenhouses in Florida! It's okay if the citrus in your yard isn't showing off yet. Start looking for new growth and blooms this month into April. As the days get longer and warmer you should see some activity! Your tree should be producing fruit through the spring and summer for peak harvesting October through December.

Fertilizing

In order to get lots of fruit, you need to be fertilizing! Citrus are heavy feeders, meaning they need consistent fertilization to thrive. In the first few years you should feed 4-6 times through the growing season and tapper off as the tree matures over the years. We recommend applying your first round of fertilizer this week or next, after the threat of cold has passed.

Tip from Zack: you shouldn't fertilize after July 4th!

Pruning

Now is the time to prune your citrus trees! Make your major structural cuts in the early spring to prune out interior branches, improving air flow, preventing pests, and aiding light infiltration. You will continue small maintenance pruning through the summer to help growth.

Tip from Zack: always cut off "suckers" growing at the base of your citrus and "water sprouts" that shoot out and grow vertically.

Pests

There are a few pests to be on the lookout for when growing citrus. Citrus leafminer is common but not detrimental, just unsightly. It has more of an impact on young trees and stalls growth. Other pests like scale and mites can be treated using horticultural oil in the spring, but you should avoid spraying oils in the heat of the summer. One major problem we learned about was citrus greening. "The Asian citrus psyllid, an insect the size of a gnat, spreads this devastating bacterial disease when feeding on newly developed leaves and flushes. The psyllid was found in Charleston County in 2008. As a result, there is now a ban on citrus being moved or shipped from Charleston, Beaufort, or Colleton Counties. Please see the Clemson Regulatory Services site for more information on the quarantine of this disease" (Snipes and Melgar).

Cold Hardiness

Citrus cold tolerance varies by variety and it's important do to research on your specific tree when planning for winter prep! In general, kumquats, various oranges and grapefruits do well in our area. If you're hoping to plant a lemon tree, Clemson has found Meyer lemons to be the most cold hardy. Keep in mind, citrus acclimates and becomes more cold tolerant over time. Because of this, an early cold event in December will be more damaging and harder to survive than a cold event in February.

Tip from Zack: keep your citrus on the south side of your home and saturate the soil with water to create a mico-climate before a cold event.

For more citrus information, check out the wonderful fact sheets from Clemson's Home & Garden Information Center below! These are a great resource for home gardeners in the Lowcountry.

Snipes, Zack, and Jaun Carlos Melgar. “In-Ground Citrus Production.” Home & Garden Information Center, 2024, hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/in-ground-citrus-production/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

Jeffers, Andrew Drew. “Container Citrus Production.” Home & Garden Information Center | Clemson University, South Carolina, 2017, hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/container-citrus-production/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.