Nutrient deficiency

• Entire leaves yellow with apparent green veins
• Most severe on branch tips or new growth
• Affected trees have poor growth, undersized leaves
• Symptoms occur on River birch in alkaline soils

What is chlorosis?  Chlorosis is a common nutritional disorder of many woody ornamentals in Wisconsin, particularly in the southern and eastern parts of the state.  Pin oaks are most commonly affected by chlorosis, although many other trees and shrubs (e.g., white oak, red maple, white pine and Rhododendron spp.) are also very susceptible.

What does chlorosis look like?  Symptoms of chlorosis are easy to distinguish from those of other diseases.  Affected leaves turn yellow, except for the veins, which remain green.  In severe cases, foliage may turn brown and die.  Symptoms can occur on isolated branches, or over an entire tree.

What causes chlorosis?  Chlorosis occurs when a tree or shrub is lacking certain micronutrients, in many cases iron or manganese.  Lack of micronutrients in a tree may reflect a lack of these nutrients in the soil due to poor fertility.  Often, however, there are sufficient micronutrients in the soil, but they cannot be absorbed by a plant’s roots.

How do I save a tree or shrub with chlorosis?  Chlorosis is rarely fatal and can be treated.  For treatments to be effective, you must determine the exact cause of the chlorosis.  Have the soil around an affected plant tested for micronutrients and for pH prior to applying any treatment.  If the soil test indicates a lack of specific micronutrients, fertilize with these micronutrients.

How do I avoid problems with chlorosis in the future?  Plant trees and shrubs that are less susceptible to chlorosis, and make sure your trees and shrubs receive sufficient water (approximately one inch per week).  This will help plants with micronutrient uptake.  If rainfall is insufficient, use a drip hose or soaker hose to apply supplemental water.  Remove turf from around the base of a tree and shrub out to at least the drip line, and apply shredded hardwood, pine or cedar mulch in this area to help keep the plant’s root system moist.  On heavy clay soils, use three inches of mulch.  On other soils, use three to four inches of mulch.  Be sure to keep mulch two inches from the main trunk of a tree.  If you decide to plant susceptible trees or shrubs, watch them closely for yellowing characteristic of cholorosis and apply corrective treatments as soon as symptoms appear.  Treatments should always be based on the results of soil micronutrient and pH tests.

Information source: University of Wisconsin-Madison