A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Fruit Forum Help with my Orange Tree

Hi Everyone, Happy New Year!

I have an orange tree I planted 1 1/2 yrs ago. It is full with lush green leaves on the bottem, but the top branches are long and the leaves curling like they are aren't getting enough water.
I didn't realize til I started to do some research, that I never removed the new "Sucker" branches when they came in after the first six months, and they are where all the life in the tree is. It is not yet producing fruit, and we do fertilize it regularly.

How should I prune it? Should I remove all the full "Sucker" branches even though they make up most of the tree? Any suggestions how I can make this tree grow will be greatly appreciated since it looks terrible, with the full green small branches along the grown and the upper portion very straggly looking.

Thanks!

Welcome, dkaz. Are the sucker branches below a graft line? If so they may have 'used' all of the energy depriving the upper graft from thriving.
I know we in the southwest have gotten some unusually cold weather. It could be that the taller 'dead' part just froze? If so you need to trim away all of the dead growth. A tree expert could tell you and you might need to consult one.
Another thing is that orange trees are subject to a lot of fungal diseases. And this could also be your problem. Another one for a tree expert to look at and the cure would probably be cutting out all of the diseased portions as well as some type of spray.
I am sorry I am not an expert for you. I think I would try my local county extension for more specific answers. Or an agricultural expert from a local college or even high school may be able to point you in the right direction for your tree.
Good luck.

I agree with Jonni13. Suckers below the graft line should be removed.

Info about Citrus Graft Lines and Suckers

Info about Citrus Leaf Curl