Tree Chlorosis Symptoms, Prevention and Removal, Part 1
There are a few different tree diseases out there that may begin to show their signs and symptoms in the early parts of the summer, and one good example is iron deficiency – also called iron chlorosis, or simply chlorosis. Possible in a variety of tree species, chlorosis is a common condition that will lead to tree fatality if it isn’t properly treated, meaning it must be addressed promptly if it’s found in any tree.
At Affordable Tree Care, we’re proud to offer a variety of tree spraying and disease control services to help keep your trees safe from a variety of threats, including chlorosis in susceptible species. In this two-part blog, we’ll go over everything you need to know about chlorosis in trees, including which species might be at risk, how to spot symptoms and how to both prevent and remove chlorosis from trees.
General Iron Chlorosis Symptoms
In most cases, as we noted above, the symptoms of iron chlorosis in your trees that are at risk of it will begin to show up in the early or mid-summer periods we’re just entering now. The first visible sign here in most cases is the leaves on your trees turning a strange color, usually yellow or light green.
This discoloration might begin on certain sections of the canopy, then may spread to the entire tree somewhat quickly. If you notice this and take a closer look at some of the leaves, you’ll also be likely to see green veins present within them. Finally, as the disease becomes more serious, you’ll also begin to notice leaves turning brown and falling off, plus significant limb die-back symptoms.
What Causes It
As we discussed, chlorosis refers to a deficiency in iron in the tree. In many cases, this arises due to high pH levels in the soil, which makes nutrients like iron and manganese insoluble to trees, not allowing them to take them in properly. Just adding iron alone, while it seems like it should solve the problem, may not do so due to this soil alkalinity.
In addition, low oxygen conditions can exacerbate this problem. These are often present in soils that have poor drainage, or those that have been compacted by construction or foot traffic above.
Species at Greatest Risk
Some of the very most common tree species that can be affected by chlorosis include silver maples, pine oaks, river birch trees and a variety of red maple or maple hybrids. It can also affect trees like cottonwoods, bald cypress, swamp white oak, white pine and ornamental juniper trees, though this second batch includes somewhat rarer species that are not always at as high of a risk.
For more on how to recognize and limit chlorosis in your trees, or to learn about any of our arborist services, from tree trimming to tree removal and more, speak to the staff at Affordable Tree Care today.
