General description

Citrus reticulata, commonly called Mandarin is a member of the Citrus family and related to orange and lemon trees, are trees that produce easy-to-peel and exceptionally sweet citrus fruit.

Native to the Philippines and southeastern Asia, mandarin orange trees are cold-hardier than most other varieties of citrus. Still, the tender mandarin oranges can be damaged by temperatures lower than 26 degrees F, they and grow best in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 and 10. With deep green foliage and bright orange fruit, mandarin orange trees can make an attractive and fruitful addition to your home landscape

Read more: How to Care for a Mandarin Orange Tree | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6464740_care-mandarin-orange-tree.html#ixzz1tO1l6OyS.

Plant requirements

Plant your mandarin orange tree in a location in your home landscape that receives between eight and 10 hours of direct sunlight each day. The planting location you choose for your mandarin orange tree should also offer well-drained soil.

Maintenance

Water your mandarin orange tree using the watering ring method once or twice a week for the first month after planting. Decrease the frequency of watering to once every seven to 10 days until the entire watering ring is absorbed into the surrounding soil. Provide established mandarin orange trees with at least 1 inch of water each week in the absence of rain.

Keep the soil underneath your mandarin orange tree free of grass and weeds, which will try to compete with your tree for moisture and nutrients. Hand-pull simple weeds, or use a contact herbicide for more stubborn vegetation. Use chemical herbicide products according to package directions to avoid harming your tree.

Fertilize mandarin orange trees in the spring, once new growth is observed, using a fertilizer that has been specially formulated for citrus trees. Though specially formulated citrus fertilizer is preferred, you can use 21-0-0 or 20-10-10 fertilizers. Apply the fertilizer to the soil around your mandarin orange tree according to package directions.

Prune your mandarin orange tree, as needed, to remove broken, diseased or dead branches. Use only sharpened and sterilized pruning shears when pruning your mandarin orange tree to avoid the possible spread of disease.

Read more: How to Care for a Mandarin Orange Tree | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6464740_care-mandarin-orange-tree.html#ixzz1tO2OgT8k

Practical use

Beautiful foliage and of course ... edible fruit