 a home for a great number of ants. What is going on and is there hope?
A: Your tangerine may be suffering from any number of maladies. The presence of ants indicates the presence of either aphids or scale insects. Usually these are minor nuisance insects, but in great numbers they can weaken a tree. The peeling bark could be caused by insects, irregular watering, sun/wind damage or exocortis (an uncommon viral disease).
I recommend applying fertilizer especially formulated for citrus. Yellowing leaves are a common symptom of nutrient deficiency (especially nitrogen). Citrus trees require regular feeding, so this is a good place to start.
If you suspect sun damage (this is likely if the damage is on the south or west facing side), paint the trunk with white latex paint that has been diluted 1:1 with water.
Q: When is the best time to prune a grapefruit tree?
A: Most citrus does not require extensive pruning. At any time you can remove dead branches, water sprouts (long, nonproductive, extremely vigorous branches that grow straight up) and branches that are rubbing together.
If you want to prune to keep the tree’s height under control, do so either right before it blooms or after fruit set. Pruning encourages new growth, which is susceptible to frost damage, so avoid doing it late in the year. Lower branches can be pruned to improve access to fruit.
Q: After the rain, I found all these mounds in the ground. Do you have any idea what they are?
A: Your photo shows a bunch of 1/4-1/2-inch diameter holes next to little piles of excavated soil. These are earthworm holes, and they often appear after heavy rain. Earthworms produce tunnels beneath the soil surface as they feed on decaying organic matter. When the soil becomes waterlogged, these tunnels begin to collapse and the worms migrate upwards to escape. As they make their way to the surface, they re-dig these tunnels and the displaced soil ends up outside.
This is one case where holes in the ground are a good thing!
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