Here at Minnetonka Orchards, we’ve taken the time to review the best soil for many different fruit trees. While most of the best soils are interchangeable, each type of tree has different things to keep in mind to support optimal growth.
Today, we’re going to look at the best soil for orange trees, one of the country’s most popular fruit trees. Orange trees are most prevalent in southern and coastal states, but as long as you have the best soil for orange trees, you can grow them almost anywhere.
So, if you want to add this delicious fruit to your home garden, let’s find out how to get started!
How to Choose the Best Soil for Orange Trees
Have a Soil/Fertilizer Mix
While having the best soil for orange trees is an important first step, you’re also going to need fertilizer to provide nutrition to your orange trees.
So, rather than buying two separate products, you should purchase a potting soil and fertilizer mix. That way, you have everything you need to get started off on the right foot.
Acidity
Like most citrus trees and plants, orange trees need soil with a pH level of between 6.0 and 6.8. Ideally, you should try to find an option that has a pH level of 6.3 to 6.8 to give your orange trees the best chance at success.
If the potting soil you purchase doesn’t have the pH level listed, you should perform a soil alkalinity test. Then, once you know the pH level of your soil, you can add products to make your soil more or less alkaline or acidic.
Drainage and Aeration
Two of the main things to look out for when it comes to choosing the best soil for orange trees are drainage and aeration. Your soil should have a composition that allows for excellent drainage, but also has moisture retention during dry spouts.
Along with drainage, orange tree roots also need aeration. Without aeration, the roots of orange trees are prone to taking on too much moisture and will suffer from root diseases and die.
Soil Texture
To ensure proper drainage, aeration, and moisture retention, your soil should mainly consist of peat moss, forest hummus, or sandy loam. Any of these three is an excellent option and the best soil for orange trees will have at least one or a combination of the three.
Our Picks for Best Soil for Orange Trees
So now let’s dive into our favorite products to recommend for your orange tree.
Overall Best Soil for Orange Trees
Dr. Earth Mother Land Premium Organic All Purpose Planting Mix
If you’re looking for the best soil for orange trees that is next to flawless, look no further than Dr. Earth Mother Land Premium Planting Mix. This is an all-purpose organic planting mix that contains all-natural ingredients that are 100% organic.
It consists of soil that’s made up of the following ingredients:
- Forest humus
- Fir bark
- Peat moss
- Alfalfa seed
- Earthworm castings
- Fish bone meal
- Kelp meal
- Mined potassium sulfate
- Soybean and fish meal
- Seaweed extract
- Aloe vera
- Yucca extract
- And more!
While the ingredients in this all-purpose planting mix are abundant, they’re all chosen for their healthy properties. It contains everything you need to give your orange trees the best chance at growing tall and luscious.
Best of all, Dr. Earth Mother Land is the only non-GMO verified project soil in the United States. As such, each ingredient is clean and safe for humans and animals if your pets happen to eat some.
This planting mix is designed to break up sticky soil that’s harmful to the roots of your orange trees and helps to increase drainage and aeration. All in all, it’s hands down the best soil for orange trees and is sure to give you a plentiful harvest.
Pros
- Safe for humans and animals.
- 100% organic and all-natural ingredients.
- You can use it as your planting soil or as the topsoil, or both.
- Contains everything you need to get your orange trees started off on the right footing.
- Helps to promote root and plant health through excellent drainage and aeration.
Cons
- Since it’s the best, this product can be slightly expensive.
Runner Up for Best Soil for Orange Trees
Espoma Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Mix
While the name of this potting soil mix pertains to cactus, it’s actually one of the best soils for orange trees on the market. Espoma Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Mix contain a unique blend of organic materials that are specifically designed to help your orange trees grow.
The bulk of the soil portion of this mix consists of peat moss, perlite, limestone, and forest humus which provide excellent aeration and drainage. On the nutritious side of things, this Espoma product contains yucca extract and a wide variety of fungi.
Together, this blend of ingredients promotes root growth and helps prevent diseases that can kill orange trees in their infancy. This mix is also enhanced with Mycro-tone to further improve moisture retention during droughts and the all-natural ingredients are 100% organic.
Pros
- Promotes root growth with Mycro-tone
- Provides excellent drainage and aeration
- Arguably the best soil for orange trees
- Helps your orange trees retain moisture during dry periods
Cons
- Because of how popular this potting mix is, it may be difficult to get ahold of.
Best Organic Soil for Orange Trees
Dr. Earth Natural Wonder Fruit Tree Planting Mix
While choosing an organic option isn’t mandatory, many of the best soils for orange trees are organic and Dr. Earth Natural Wonder Fruit Tree Planting Mix is no exception. This 1.5 cubic foot bag of citrus fruit goodness is a great planting soil for ideal health and productivity for your orange tree.
It doesn’t contain any additives or chemicals that mix with the natural ingredients in the soil. It’s also hand-crafted and packed with care to ensure a premium product.
Ingredients are one of the reasons that this mix from Dr. Earth is the best soil for orange trees. It’s made with bits of yucca and aloe vera extract. These natural plants have healing benefits and nutrients that improve the health of your orange tree.
Aside from aloe vera and yucca extract, this soil also has earthworm castings, feed-grade meals, and other natural ingredients. The only downside about this orange tree soil is that it’s slightly expensive, which means it might not be in everyone’s budget.
This soil also protects the living microbes that are present in the planting mix as well as the soil that your orange tree is growing in.
Pros
- 100% organic and natural
- Contains aloe vera and yucca plant extract
- Helps protect and heal your orange tree
- Helps seal in the microbes inside the soil
- Helps keep your soil moist during dry periods
Cons
- Slightly pricy
Best Soil for Orange Trees if You’re on a Budget
Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Cactus, Palm, and Citrus
If you’re short on cash but still want the best soil for orange trees, you should consider Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Cactus, Palm, and Citrus plants. Once again, this soil isn’t necessarily specific to orange trees, but rather it’s an all-encompassing option.
However, while it’s not specifically designed to be the best soil for orange trees, it’s still at the top of the list. It contains everything your orange trees need to be fruitful, including iron and bone meal.
It also has the consistency and chemical makeup that helps the roots of your orange trees retain moisture during dry spells, but also provides excellent drainage. The main soil ingredient is peat moss, which is one of the building blocks it takes to be the best soil for orange trees.
The only potential downside of this product from Miracle-Gro is that it isn’t organic, which means it’s been chemically modified. However, the chemicals it contains are ones that will help your orange trees succeed rather than hindering them.
Finally, this soil is available in forty-pound bags so you should have plenty for all your citrus trees. It also contains Miracle-Gros signature chemical designed for slowly releasing nutrients into the root system over a prolonged period of time.
Pros
- Designed for slowly releasing essential nutrients over a three-month period of time.
- Very affordable
- Consists mainly of peat moss, bone meal, and iron
- Provides excellent drainage and moisture retention
Cons
- Not organic so it contains chemicals
Best Soil With Fertilizer for Orange Trees
Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil and Fertilizer Mix
While Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil and Fertilizer Mix didn’t make it to the top of our list of best soil for orange trees, it’s still one of the better runner up options. As the name indicates, this potting soil mix consists both of potting soil and fertilizer which means you have everything you need to grow orange trees in one handy bag.
The soil portion consists of forest hummus, sandy loam, and peat moss, while the fertilizer portion consists of earthworm castings, fish and crab meal, and bat guano. Another thing that makes this arguably the best soil for orange trees is the fact that the pH level is between 6.3 and 6.8, which is ideal.
The perfect pH level combined with the ingredients will help your orange trees have stronger, thicker roots and branches. It will also allow for and promote fertilizer uptake to speed up the growing process.
Better yet, because peat moss and sandy loam are the main ingredients, this soil provides excellent drainage and aeration.
Pros
- A fairly affordable option
- Contains both potting soil and fertilizer
- Has everything your orange trees need from a nutrition and a drainage standpoint
- Has an adjusted pH level that’s perfect for orange trees
Cons
- This is a popular potting soil so it may not be readily available
Best Combo Soil Mix for Orange Trees
Sungro Black Gold Seed Starting Mix Plus Black Gold Perlite
For the final entry on our list of best soil for orange trees, let’s look at a combination item. Black Gold Seed Starting Mix, when combined with Black Gold Perlite is a dynamic duo.
The seed starting mix contains all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and ingredients that your orange trees will need to succeed. Combine that with the Black Gold Perlite, and you have a true dynamo.
Black Gold Perlite consists of volcanic glass and is a crucial component in any type of best soil for orange trees. Perlite helps with drainage and aeration, which are both essential for orange trees.
The seed starting mix, on the other hand, has all the nutrients and vitamins that your orange trees need to be healthy and fruitful.
This seed starting mix and perlite combo is best when used with orange trees in the premature stages. It helps to promote root growth and strength and also fights off fungal diseases and harmful bacteria.
Pros
- The combination helps to promote healthy root growth.
- Provides excellent aeration and drainage to prevent diseases.
- Has all the nutrients and vitamins your orange trees need to succeed.
Cons
- The combination can be a tad pricy.
- Best suited for starting orange trees in containers before transferring them to the outdoors.
Be Sure to Use the Best Soil for Orange Trees!
As you can see, there are tons of options when it comes to choosing the best soil for orange trees. However, choosing the right soil is just step one of setting your orange trees up for success.
Excited for more orange content? Check out our orange trees page to start learning everything there is to know about your favorite citrus!
Shopping for your garden can get overwhelming, fast. So if you’re looking for advice on tools and supplies, then you’re in the right place!