Growing Citrus In The Ground:
Planting –
Choose a location in full sun to partial shade in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Citrus do not need to be planted in full sun. Dig a hole at least 20 inches wide and as deep as the original pot. Carefully remove the tree from its pot, taking care not to disturb the roots. Add loose soil to the bottom of the hole to raise the tree so it is at the same depth it was in its original pot and backfill with remaining soil and tamp down slightly. Water deeply to help remove air pockets and to make sure water gets to the entire root ball. If you are mulching, leave 3 inches around the trunk free of mulch.
Watering –
When you water you need to water deeply so the entire root ball receives water. You will want to water again when the top 2 inches of soil are just about dry. You will need to check on the tree often and monitor its leaves for changes until you figure out a watering schedule that works for you. Citrus are fairly drought-tolerant once established, but you will need to be willing to provide regular water as needed for the first three years.
Fertilizing –
I recommend fertilizing new trees with a higher nitrogen fertilizer. I use a 13-6-6 fertilizer that works very well. This allows the tree to focus on growing branches and roots. A well established tree will be able to set and carry more fruit so I prefer my customers to focus on branching vs fruiting for the first couple years. I recommend you remove developing fruit from the tree during this time. Follow the directions on your preferred fertilizer for how much and how often to fertilize. I recommend fertilizing two or three times a year from Spring through August. 1 lb per 1 in of tree caliper (¼ inch tree, ¼ pound of fertilizer)
Pruning –
There are many ways to prune your citrus so please consider doing further research on youtube or through google for alternative options before making your decision. I recommend pruning inground trees to create dense branching that will create more branches to produce better fruit yields in 3 years. I recommend topping your tree at 24 inches to encourage branching. Then continue to cut branches approximately 12-14 inches to create a round beach ball shaped tree. Continue to prune to create a larger beach ball shape, after 3 years just prune the longer branches as needed. Removing lower limbs allows for easier mowing, watering, fertilizing and maintenance.