Drew Scott of HGTV’s “Property Brothers” knows a thing or two about landscapes. Whether he’s designing outdoor spaces for celebrity friends on “Celebrity IOU” or creating his own oasis in the backyard of his own home, there are certain citrus trees that Scott returns to again and again. Lemon trees (Citrus x limon) are a good choice for him because they prefer warm climates, produce lots of fruit, and many varieties can stay small.

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Scott and his family live in Los Angeles, California, so it’s no surprise that lemon trees are an integral part of their landscaping. Originally from India, lemons have become an essential part of landscaping and cuisine in the Mediterranean, parts of Asia, and warmer parts of North America. In the United States, lemons are generally hardy only in USDA zones 9 through 11, making them perfect for Southern California’s climate. Of course, gardeners in colder climates or those without large outdoor spaces can also grow a lemon tree indoors.

Lemon trees thrive in loamy and sandy soils with good drainage and appreciate slightly acidic soil, although they can tolerate a higher pH. Although they thrive in full sun locations, be sure to protect your tree from wind. Lemons, like other citrus trees, are heavy feeders and benefit from the application of a balanced fertilizer in late winter to late spring when they emerge from dormancy and begin to bear fruit.

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In addition to good soil, sunlight and fertilizer, lemon trees also need regular water to thrive. When Drew Scott helped create an outdoor retreat for actor Justin Hartley’s boyfriend Mat on “Celebrity IOU,” he opted for a built-in drip irrigation system to minimize landscape maintenance — lemon trees need moist soil that’s not waterlogged and should never begin to wilt. Depending on how much rainfall your area gets, you may need to give your young trees an extra gallon or two of water per week, especially in the spring.

When Drew Scott showed viewers his garden as part of his exclusive home tour on the YouTube channel “Drew & Jonathan”, he mentioned that one of his favorite things about his lemon trees is that they don’t grow too big, reaching a height of around 10 feet. Thanks to the trees’ small size, Scott and his family never have to worry about fruit spoiling because they’re too tall to reach. To ensure your lemon tree doesn’t get too big, it’s best to choose a tree that’s been grown on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks. You can also opt for a variety like the Meyer lemon tree, which stays naturally smaller and generally only reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet.

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The Property Brothers twins consistently focus on textures and heights, not colors, when it comes to landscaping. In the stunning outdoor space they created for Justin Hartley’s boyfriend Mat in Celebrity IOU, they combined the lemon trees they chose with other plants that also thrive in the Los Angeles heat, including lime trees, mesquite trees and ornamental grasses. You can also plant flowers like marigolds near your lemon trees to keep pests away.