Hey, everyone!

My husband and I moved into a new house last year, and we're finally getting around to doing the landscaping. We're doing most of it ourselves, so it's been a slow project. The first thing that's nearly complete is a small, circular raised bed where we plan to plant a multi-grafted citrus. I know these trees can sometimes take some extra love, so I want to make sure and plant ours at the very best time of year. Any advice on when that would be? If it helps, I'm in Sacramento, CA.

Also, while I'm at it, anyone in the area know the best place for me to go to track down a tree? I know lots of you do grafts yourself, but I'm very new to anything more ambitious than growing tomatoes on my balcony, having just gotten free of apartment life, so I'm trying not to bite off more than I can chew like I usually do. I see that Four Winds comes very highly recommended, but their site says that they don't sell multi-grafted citrus trees. I'd rather not resort to a big box store, as their plants never look terribly healthy when I visit their gardening sections.

Thanks in advance!

In the citrus belt, trees can be planted any time of year. Spring is the best time to plant container-grown trees from a nursery. Set standard-size oranges 20 feet apart, standard-size grapefruit 25 feet apart, dwarfs 6 to 10 feet apart. Plant the trees no deeper than they grew in the nursery container. When you dig the hole for your tree, make it just large enough for the tree's root ball to fit into. Do not add any amendments. Back fill only with the dirt you removed when digging the hole. Make a watering ring large enough to hold at least 5 gallons of water.

also:

The below link is simplistic but is "OK" for your area.
http://www.ehow.com/video_4757533_plant-citrus-tree.html

Millet (538-)

Thank you for the reply. I'll bookmark the link.

In hot-summer areas I like fall planting; in mild-summer areas I like spring planting. However, I plant them year-round if container-grown.

For a fall planting, is there any kind of weather window I should be looking at? The end of certain kinds of weather? I'm worried about it being hit by a freeze when it's still young.

This is basically going to be an in-ground citrus, even though it'll be in a raised bed.

You have hard freezes there in Sacramento,CA?

If so, I'd plant in the spring after danger of frost. Otherwise you will have to protect your new plant from freezes. The plant won't grow in the winter anyway.