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Iron Chlorosis
(Interveinal Chlorosis)
Iron Chlorosis (Interveinal Chlorosis) describes a condition in which a tree’s foliage loses its healthy green color and fades to a pale green or yellow hue. 

 

This condition if allowed to progress will cause slow growth, leaf loss and eventually tree death. 

 

Chlorosis is often caused by deficiencies of the micro-elements iron and manganese. This is particularly prevalent in oak.  In alkaline soils (pH>7) iron and manganese becomes bound in soils and therefore are unavailable to the tree.  Trees growing in poor drainage are also susceptible to iron chlorosis. 

WHAT TO DO:
WHEN TO DO IT:
WHAT WILL HAPPEN:
The first thing to do: diagnose the severity of chlorosis.  You may refer to the severity scale developed by Arborjet to aid in diagnosis and treatment.

 

Arborjet recommends a two pronged approach to treating Iron Chlorosis.

 

1.  Trunk Micro-infusionTM of MIN-jet Iron using the Tree I.V.. with the Arborplug Technology.  MIN-jet Iron is a microelement supplement formulated especially for iron deficiency and chlorosis.  Trees deficient in iron may also be deficient in manganese and other microelements which are made immediately available by stem injection.  Our MIN-jet Iron formulation also improves plant health by supplying kelp, a natural biostimulant.  The Tree I.V. micro-infusion system is designed for the large volume needed to treat pin oak. Use the ArborplugTechnology.  Other injection devices to select for this application include the Hydraulic, and the Pro-Cap.  These systems enable the arborist or tree custodian to rapidly inject a precise dose of medicament directly into the xylem tissue, assuring a fast plant health response.

2.  Arborjet recommends the addition of humates to the soil.  The active ingredients of humic acid, ulmic acid, and fulvic acid will enable plants to extract minerals (iron, manganese) from the soil; stimulate and increases root growth; and help plants overcome stress. A variety of humate containing products can be acquired from Boston Tree Preservation at www.bostontreepreservation.com. A complete soil analysis will aid you in selecting the correct product for your needs. 

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Generally, the best seasons for micro-infusion™ are fall and spring. Uptake occurs when trees are transpiring. The environmental conditions that favor uptake are moderate temperatures, adequate soil moisture, and high humidity.  Soil temperature should be above 40 degrees for micro-infusion™.  Tree health will influence uptake time.  Generally, hot weather or dry soil conditions will result in a reduced rate of uptake.  If treating trees in the summer, micro-infuse in the morning for the quickest uptake. A dying tree is a poor candidate for treatment.  It is the responsibility of the arborist or tree custodian to assess tree health and its potential for recovery before undertaking treatment.
Recovery will be proportional to the level of the severity of Chlorosis at the time of treatment.  Response to treatment can be very rapid.  You can expect to see noticeable greening and improved vitality within the growing season and often within weeks of application.  At Arborjet we stress the importance of being proactive.  This means that it is imperative that you treat the disease, not only the symptoms.  This is why we recommend the addition of humates to the soil in order to prevent the recurrence of Iron Chlorosis symptoms.  With the proper assessment and amendment of soil conditions, the tree may not need to be injected again for several years.
PHOTOS:

Left: Healthy pin oak leaves

Right: Healthy pin oak after micro-infusion with MIN-jet IRON using the Tree I.V.

Left image from: oplin.org

“I have been using the Arborjet system to treat iron chlorosis in my clients’ trees and have seen them restored to full health within weeks.” - Ron Howell, Howell Tree & Landscape, Columbus, OH.