- 1). Wait to plant a Meyer lemon until past the last freeze date. In Gulf Coast area, this means do not plant until late March. While waiting to plant, if there is a possibility of a freeze, bring the potted Meyer lemon into the house or garage for the night for protection. While in the pot, water the tree every two to three days unless it rains. If the dirt is dry an inch below the surface, the Meyer lemon needs water.
- 2). Plant the Meyer lemon in an area that receives sun for at least half of the day. Full sun is not needed for lemons, but the more sun it receives, the more fruit it will produce. The ideal place is on the south side of a building where it can be protected from winter wind.
- 3). Adjust the tree so that the graft is a few inches above the ground. Avoid creating a shallow basin for water, which will threaten the tree with foot rot. Avoid mulching. Avoiding adding fertilizer to the soil at planting; wait for the tree to begin to grow.
- 4). Water the lemon tree every day for the first week. Then water it once a week unless it rains.
- 5). Add a cup of ammonium sulfate, a 21-0-0 mix, split into three or four applications, in the tree’s first year. Scatter on the ground and water thoroughly, recommends the Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension. Increase to two cups in the second year and three in the third.
- 6). Protect young trees during freezes with a blanket or tarp cover and a bucket of water under the covering.