moisture check:
feel top 3–5 cm soil.
if dry → deep-water to the dripline (in pots: water to slight runoff).
avoid standing water >1 h.
drainage pass (after rain):
clear channels;
make sure root collar stays dry/exposed.
mulch:
keep 5–8 cm organic mulch;
pull back 10 cm from the trunk;
top up thin spots.
pests on new flush:
look for leaf miner trails, soft scales/mealy fluff, aphids, mites.
action: morning rinse + soap 1–2% or neem 5 ml/l (spray undersides at dusk); repeat in 5–7 days if needed.
sooty mold check:
if leaves blackened, wipe a spot—then treat sap-suckers first, rinse foliage next morning.
canopy & light:
remove water sprouts, dead or crossing twigs;
lift branches touching soil; don’t hard-prune.
fruit load:
thin crowded clusters on young trees;
prop/support heavy limbs;
pick up any fallen fruit/leaves.
weed-free ring:
keep a clean 50–100 cm circle around the trunk (no tools scraping bark).
feeding (if it’s a feeding week):
in-ground: side-dress mature compost around dripline; water in.
pots: compost tea/vermicompost extract 2–4 l per tree;
leach salts with a deep flush once/month.
micronutrient watch:
note pale new leaves (iron) or interveinal yellowing on old leaves (magnesium).
plan chelate/epsom salt fixes on your next feed day.
log it:
date, rainfall (mm), liters watered, feed (y/n), pests seen, actions, fruit drop count.
quick cues
edges crisping → under-watering/heat: deepen mulch, water earlier.
sticky leaves/ants → sap-suckers active: treat pests, then rinse sooty mold.
many flowers, few fruit → heat/irregular water/nutrients: keep moisture steady; add potassium (seaweed/wood ash lightly).