Like people, trees need vitamins and nutrients necessary to survive. Trees that grow in a high pH, heavy clay soil or lack adequate watering can suffer from iron chlorosis, a necessary vitamin needed to thrive.

While a healthy tree will have bright green leaves, a tree suffering from iron chlorosis will have pale yellow leaves highlighted by a dark green vein. These pale leaves are a key indicator that the tree is severely lacking in iron. If left untreated, the leaves will continue to fade, eventually drying up and falling off in the heat of the summer. Over the course of time, twig dieback can lead to larger branch dieback and ultimately within several years, total tree decline. Pin oaks, river birch, sweet gum and red maples are most affected by the chlorosis condition. 

Experts recommend an iron injection or iron manganese treatment to provide your tree the nutrients it needs, administered directly into the trunk. This will allow the tree to uptake the iron injection to the entire canopy and restore the foliage color and health of the tree.     

If your trees are showing signs of iron chlorosis, contact your local Arbor Masters® and find out how we can help you keep your valuable trees green and healthy.