Got Nature? Blog

Many trees, shrubs, and other ornamental plantings in Indiana and throughout the Midwest suffer from iron deficiency caused by high pH (alkaline) soil. Soil pH affects plant growth directly and indirectly by affecting the availability of essential nutrients and microbial activity. One of these nutrients is iron, an essential plant nutrient that is required for the production of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis and gives plants their green color. Iron (and manganese) deficiency results in leaf yellowing (chlorosis); over time, scorching of foliage, dieback and even death of the tree or shrub can result.

Iron Chlorosis of Trees and Shrubs talks about the symptoms, the cause and the managing of iron chlorosis. One of the authors is Lindsey Purcell, an urban forestry specialist from the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University.

This 5-page publication is part of the Plant Pathology in the Landscape Series and is a free download from the Purdue Extension resource center, The Education Store. View other tree disease publications and video resources as you place keywords in the search field located on The Education Store website.

Resources
Tree Diseases: Oak Wilt in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Tree Diseases: White Pine Decline in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Mechanical Damage to Trees: Mowing and Maintenance Equipment, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Surface Root Syndrome, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Tree Appraisal and the Value of Trees, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center

Lindsey Purcell, Urban Forestry Specialist
Purdue University, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources