Green with Envy
Written by: Jean Ferdinandsen, Certified Arborist WI-0149A
Most trees and shrubs should have an even green color when healthy. Some exceptions to this rule are varieties whose foliage may have another color (e.g. yellow, reddish) or be variegated (multi-colored leaves).
But if your tree is supposed to be green and isn’t, it may be suffering from chlorosis. This condition is due to a nutrient deficiency (usually iron Fe, or manganese Mn) that is essential to making chlorophyll and manufacturing food. This deficiency may occur due to a lack of nutrients, or the tree’s inability to absorb nutrients as a result of high soil pH or root loss. White oak, pin oak, red maple, river birch, bald cypress, white pine & magnolia are often affected and may show chlorosis.
When essential nutrients are lacking, leaves become pale with green veins; may be decreased in size; or have a scorched appearance on the leaf margin. Whole or parts of a tree may be affected. If this condition continues, reduced growth and health; dieback; and even tree death may result. Intervention is needed to reverse this decline spiral.
Wachtel Tree Science has a new chlorosis treatment you may see recommended for your tree starting this year. This soil injected treatment is a comprehensive application that provides micronutrients, slow release fertilization, root stimulants, soil pH reduction and humectants all in one mix.
Wachtel’s combination chlorosis treatment can provide a synergistic effect with greater results to green up trees. It saves money by avoiding multiple applications and may avoid more costly and invasive trunk injections.
If you think your tree may be suffering from chlorosis, call your Wachtel Certified Arborist for an evaluation and recommendations. Perhaps this chlorosis treatment is what your tree needs to be green with envy.