Iron is a vital micronutrient that is needed for healthy plant growth. It helps your trees manufacture chlorophyll, the pigment that makes the trees on your leaves green. If you notice that your tree is developing yellow leaves with green veins, it's the tell-tale sign that your tree has an iron deficiency. It happens when the soil pH is high, a common situation in Iowa. High soil pH makes iron insoluble in the ground, which means your tree cannot absorb it.

When this occurs, the treatment options you are looking at include chelated iron applications through the roots, foliar treatments, and trunk injections. It's best to let a professional team treat your trees and correct iron deficiency because they will know the best course of action to take to ensure the iron is properly absorbed by your trees.

Yellow leaves with green veins indicate an iron deficiency in your trees.

Iron Chlorosis found on tree leaf in Windsor Heights, IA.

Yellow foliage on trees can mean a lot of things. However, yellow leaves that retain their green veins indicate iron deficiency. Iron deficiency happens when the soil pH is high or alkaline, meaning nutrients in the soil cannot be absorbed by the tree. Trees need iron to produce chlorophyll, the pigment that gives your trees green and vibrant leaves. Without iron, you will see discoloration of plant tissues between the veins, an issue known as iron chlorosis.

Iron also plays a part in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is vital in your tree's ability to convert energy to food. Without enough iron, your tree can't manufacture chlorophyll and perform photosynthesis, which means its health and vigor will start to decline.

What treatment options can nurse your tree back to health?

Luckily, your tree can recover from iron deficiency. With iron chlorosis, the high pH levels in the soil make the nutrients insoluble, making it challenging for your tree to absorb iron and other resources. Because of this, correcting iron deficiency should be directed to the tree instead of the soil. Effective treatment options that will nurse your trees back to health include:

  • Applying a chelated iron product into your tree's root system provides much-needed iron in a soluble form that your tree can easily absorb.
  • Spraying foliar treatments that contain iron offers a rapid response, which is crucial if your tree is suffering and needs immediate treatment.
  • Injecting treatments directly into the tree's vascular system is an effective and long-lasting solution to treat your iron-deficient tree. However, it should be done by a professional to prevent injuring your tree.

Let A Professional Team Assess Your Tree's Situation

As with all health issues concerning your tree, seeking professional help is always your best course of action. That's because they are equipped with the skills and knowledge about tree health. Iron deficiency can be treated, and your tree has a good chance of bouncing back from it. But it takes a professional team to assess your tree's situation properly. Doing it by yourself might cause more harm to your plant because you won't have a good grasp of your tree's overall health status. With a professional team to look after your tree, you can rest assured they will lead you in the right direction to a healthier and more vibrant tree.

Look for a team that has over 30 years of experience, as that longevity is a good indicator that they provide good services.

Call our team today to schedule our iron chlorosis treatment.

Iron Chlorosis infected tree in Urbandale, IA.

Our pros at A+ Lawn & Landscape are experts at keeping your trees and shrubs in tip-top shape. If you're looking for a professional team to correct iron deficiency in your trees, we're here to help. We offer our iron chlorosis treatment to commercial and residential properties in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, IA and nearby areas. Call us today at (515) 289-2020 to schedule.