Chlorosis describes any condition in which leaves or needles develop an abnormally light green or yellow color. The most common cause of chlorosis in trees is a deficiency of iron in the tissues. Other causes of chlorosis include over-watering, over-fertilizing, damage to roots, and deficiencies in manganese or other micronutrients.
Download a Printable PDFSulfur application
Elemental sulfur can be used to lower soil pH and help correct chlorotic symptoms in trees. The process is slow (symptoms may not improve for a year or two following treatment), but the effects can last for several years.
Apply sulfur to the soil below the canopy of the tree in spring or fall at a rate according to the table below. If applying to a mulched area, apply the sulfur and rake in to help increase contact with the soil. Water thoroughly after application.
If applying to the turf, aerate to increase sulfur contact with the soil, and apply sulfur at half the rate for two successive years. Water thoroughly after application and during hot, dry weather to prevent turf damage.
Annual Follow-up Treatments:
To help maintain lower pH levels, apply elemental sulfur in the spring or fall at half the rate suggested above. This application can be incorporated into the annual lawn fertilizer schedule if one exists.
Some lawn fertilizers include iron and sulfur as added components. Choose granular products that contain high levels of these elements such as 12% iron (Fe) and 16-18% sulfur (S). Liquid products are usually lower in iron and are less effective.
If annual sulfur applications are not made, the soil pH will gradually increase and re-treatment will be necessary after a number of years.
Correcting chlorosis
Iron chlorosis is difficult to correct. Soils resist changes in pH, and there may be several factors
involved that contribute to the chlorotic condition.
Water when the soil is dry, but don’t overwater. If it does not rain, apply 1 inch of water per week in heavy soils, or 2 inches in sandy soils. Water only once or twice a week, soaking the soil well. Allow the soil to drain between waterings to allow oxygen back into the soil. Do not overwater. Automatic sprinklers that run daily or every other day can severely stress or kill trees.
Mulch with woodchips to improve soil conditions for the roots. Maintain 2-4 inches of mulch over as large an area as possible around the tree, but do not pile mulch against the trunk.
Avoid excess fertilizer. Trees generally do not need extra nitrogen fertilizer if the lawn is already being fertilized.
Consider planting trees that are less likely to develop iron chlorosis:
- most white oaks (bur, white, English)
- lindens (American, littleleaf, silver)
- American elm (disease-resistant cultivars, hybrids)
- hackberry
- Norway maple
- honeylocust
- Rocky Mountain juniper
- Ohio buckeye
- eastern redcedar
- Kentucky coffeetree
- spruce
Use proper planting techniques. Dig a wide, shallow hole. The main roots should be level with the soil surface, not deep in the hole. Remove all twine, wire and burlap, and spread the roots out as much as possible.
Susceptible trees
Commonly affected:
- silver, red and Freeman maples (Red Sunset, Autumn Blaze, etc.)
- pin oak
Also affected:
- red oak group (northern red, Shumard, etc.)
- amur maple
- birch
- crabapple
- catalpa
- hawthorn
- ornamental juniper
- pear
- baldcypress
- cottonwood
- pine
Causes of chlorosis
High pH soils (pH over 7)
Soils in Nebraska typically have high pH levels (alkaline soils), especially soils in urban areas or where the topsoil has been lost. Most trees prefer a pH range of 5 to 7, but in Nebraska levels of 7.5 to 8.5 are fairly common. Iron and other micronutrients are usually present in the soil in sufficient quantities, but the high pH ties up the iron and makes it unavailable to trees.
Wet, compacted soils with poor aeration
Roots need oxygen to function. Soils that are overwatered or compacted have low oxygen levels, which affect the ability of roots to pick up iron and other micronutrients. Extensive rains in spring can cause temporary chlorosis.
Root damage
Roots are less able to pick up nutrients if they are damaged from trenching or digging, are buried too deeply under soil, or are decayed.
High nitrogen or phosphate levels
An excess of some nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, can bind iron in the soil and prevent it from being picked up by roots.
Low levels of iron or other micronutrients
On occasion there may be insufficient levels of iron or other micronutrients in the soil, which causes chlorosis.