Time to "Pickle" the Citrus Trees!

Our citrus trees have a tendency to outdo themselves when producing fruit.  We are still picking grapefruit from the tops of the two trees which is no easy task.  Usually, Michael climbs up the huge tree and tosses the fruit down to me.  This is not only dangerous because at times he is a good twenty-five feet off the ground but because these trees have huge, three inch long thorns!  Poor guy!  He is very adept at climbing the tree, though, and makes quick work of picking.  There is also danger for me even though I am on the ground.  Just imagine if I missed that two pound orb that is being hurled from the top of the tree!  I might be bonked on the noggin!  Oww!  So far (knock on wood), no such accidents have happened and the fruit is slowly being removed from the trees.

I did notice that there are tons of black gunk coating the lower leaves of all the trees..grapefruit, satsumas, lemons and limes alike.  At first, I was not sure what this mess was but now I know...it is just that..mess!  The filmy coating on the leaves is the poop left behind by a small critter called the White Fly.  I do believe they misnamed this bug!  It should be called the Ultimate Nuisance Fly!  Look at the mess it left on my citrus trees!!  All was well and good until I looked on the underside of the leaves.  There I found something quite different than the filmy mess that coated the top side.  Minuscule dots were everywhere!  Uh oh...this was not good!  Remember how I mentioned that we were going to be overrun by bugs this year?  I was so right.  These dots were White Fly eggs!  Now go figure..White Flies lay black eggs!

The large grapefruit tree just behind Mark is about ten feet taller now.  This picture was taken three years ago!

I talked with Mark about how to possibly rid the trees of the White Flies while still not harming the birds that nest in the trees.  After discussing possible methods, we both agreed that we needed to spray with something  but what?  Then I remembered what my Uncle John had told me to do years and years ago...spray with Apple Cider Vinegar!  Mark immediately headed to the grocery store and purchased two gallons of the vinegar.  I am not sure if this will work but it is definitely worth a try!  I would so hate to spray with some toxic junk and harm the nesting birds.  Tomorrow, Michael and I will start our immense job of spraying all of the citrus trees.  This may not seem like a tremendous job to some but when you consider the size of those grapefruit trees...it will be a tiresome task!