Transplanting Into a New Container

• 1). Transplant in late fall or early winter when the lime tree's growth has slowed. Do not prune back top growth. If your lime is not a nursery plant, but is home grown, you may want to prune back roots at this time. Do this with a clean, sharp knife, cutting away 1 inch from the root mass on sides and bottom.
  
  
• 2). Remove your lime from its container by turning the pot on its side and gently flushing enough soil away from the roots to allow it to slide out. Removing all the soil from the root ball is not necessary. Gouging the roots by chipping at the soil or yanking the lime will break the delicate feeder roots.
  
  
• 3). Spread a 2-inch layer of gravel in the new container bottom for drainage. Spread fresh soil mix in the pot to a depth of 3 inches.
  
  
• 4). Set the lime in the center of the container and gently spread roots that protrude from the rootball. Level the lime by adding more soil underneath till the top of the rootball is even with the bottom of the container lip.
  
  
• 5). Sift soil mix between the rootball and container sides, firming as you go by hand. Do not add soil above the root ball or original soil mark on the trunk. Water well and add more soil mix if there is much settling.
  
  

Transplanting Outside

• 1). Check your hardiness zone by using the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Test your soil for drainage, as good drainage is necessary to keep lime trees healthy. Test for soil pH as citrus grow best in slightly acid soil. Add ammonium fertilizer as recommended by the manufacturer to correct alkali soils.
  
  
• 2). Dig a hole 6 inches deeper than your lime's rootball and make it twice as wide. If your soil drains poorly mix amendments like compost into your dug soil pile. Mix one part sand to two parts of soil and fill the bottom 6 inches of the planting hole.
  
  
• 3). Remove your lime from a nursery container by cutting away the container. Remove from a decorative pot by the flushing method given above. For ball-and-burlap plants remove the burlap wrapping. Do not prune back top growth at transplanting time, although broken or damaged roots may be removed.
  
  
• 4). Put your lime in the hole, making sure the top of the rootball is even with the soil around it. Set a bare-root lime in the hole so the old soil mark on the trunk is at or slightly above the soil level. Spread matted or circling roots to encourage new root growth.
  
  
• 5). Add soil around the rootball, firming as you go. Make a double basin for watering by mounding soil in a ring around the lime tree the same diameter as the root ball and again at the drip line. Water thoroughly in the small basin for 2 months until new roots form, and then use the larger basin.