Day 42 of 100 Days of Growth: I Saved My Dying Lemon Tree! ????

Two years ago, my lemon tree was on life support.

Seriously, it was hanging on by a thread. By early February 2022, all the leaves were grey, most had already fallen off, and weeds had taken over the base (or so I thought). Turns out, the water system had been out of battery the entire summer!

But instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to think like a wise farmer and give it some love.

I trimmed away the dead branches, fixed the watering system, and stared at that naked tree every day, hoping I hadn’t killed it. I waited…and waited. Then, magically, by late April 2022, tiny new leaves started sprouting! My tree was reborn!

For the next year, I watered, fertilised, and gave it space to thrive. By late April 2023, it had grown back into a short, but normal, tree. I thought that was it. I saved it, and it had become a decorative plant. I was just glad I didn’t give up.

Then, on New Year's Day this year, I spotted something unbelievable—a tiny green lemon! Weeks later, a second one appeared. It was amazing!

Sure, it’s only two lemons (I know, it sounds ridiculous if you’ve got a tree like my dad’s, which produces hundreds!). But hey, this tree was dead a year ago!

After 9 months, the lemons grew to the size of my palm. It was a touching moment.

Here’s what I learned:

1. The tree wasn’t failing because of its fault—no point in blaming it.
2. Patience is key. Don’t uproot something before it has a chance to grow.
3. Choose the right environment for growth—it’s all about fit and chemistry.
4. It’s my job to irrigate and fertilise.
5. Removing weeds is also on me.
6. There will be good seasons and bad seasons. I can’t control the weather, but I can prepare for it.

These lessons apply not just to gardening but to our work lives too, especially in building and nurturing teams!