Question
I am housesitting and takeing care of some lemon trees for a friend of mine who is on vacation.  The lemon trees leaves have been turning color and falling off,  the little lemons are dying and falling off,  There is a black yuckie substance on the lemon tree branches.   Help,  what can I do.  There are small multiplying plants growing in the lemon tree pots.

Answer
Hi Jeanie,  You can very easily take some Ivory or Joy and mix with water and wash the plant off.  The black will come off.  In time it would be best to get an insecticidal soap.  I use Neem Oil from Dyna Gro and it is pure and organic, does not wash off for future protestion.  You may not be watering enough or the leaves fall off around the center before they put out new fruit and blossoms.  The small multiplying plants growing in the lemon tree pots are probably weeds and you can pull them out.  kathy