Keeping Satsuma Trees Healthy

WHAT IS A SATSUMA?

Satsumas are a variety of Mandarin orange.  They usually perform very well in the southern United States given full sunlight and a moderate amount of water.  That isn't to say they don't also have their occasional health problems.  Treating a satsuma is nearly identical to treating other citrus plants.

fungus problems on satsumas

Sour Orange Scab, Brown Rot, Greasy Spot, Anthracnose are all very common and usually can be taken care of by applying a copper based fungicide.  Sooty mold is usually the symptom of insects on your plant.  Treat the insects and the sooty mold should clear itself up.  Some of these fungus are spread by rain splashing off of the ground and getting to the leaves.  A good preventative measure is to keep the area around the tree mulched.

Insect infestations on satsumas

Scale, aphids and whiteflies seem to love satsumas.  Paraffinic oil  or Horticulture oil can easily take care of these pests. Permethrin is another option that can be used to treat whiteflies if you find you need additional control.  Be sure to spray both the tops and bottoms of the foliage to get total coverage.  Leafminers can be controlled using spinosaid made for citrus plants.  Spinosaid should be applied when there   is new growth on the plants or when the leaves have fresh damage for best results.  Mites affecting satsumas can be treated with a miticide.

pruning satsumas

Most satsumas don't need to be pruned very often, if ever.  If you do choose to prune, major pruning should be done in early spring.  Dead or infested limbs should be removed at the time they are discovered.

how to fertilize a satsuma tree

Citrus plants usually need a little more iron and magnesium than most other plants.  You can treat the soil around the tree with a fertilizer utilizing a higher amount of both iron and magnesium.  Alternatively, you can use a chelated foliar spray on both the tops and bottoms of the leaves to ensure proper absorption.

safety

With any pesticide, be sure to read the label to make sure it is okay to treat your plant with it.  There are plenty of pesticides on the market that will treat your problem quickly but may also harm you if you ingest the fruit due to their residual control.