
Chemistry lesson aside, this is one instance where the solution is quite easy and the addition of a little iron can go a long way to improving the health and appearance of the trees in your yard. If you have noticed these symptoms on your trees, please don’t let them go untreated. If you choose to use it as a drench, apply once a year. It adds iron to the plant, but it won’t lower the pH of your soil, so it needs to be used in conjunction with the iron sulfate for a long term solution to address the soil problem. Yet, even though it will improve the appearance of your tree, it won’t fix the problem in the soil when used alone. If you use it as a spray, apply it several times during the growing season to turn the leaves green quickly producing a “feel good” fix for the discoloration. It comes in liquid form and can be used as either a spray or a drench and each application method serves different purposes.
#Autumn blaze maple watering plus#
Iron Plus is a powder that you apply a couple of times during the growing season, usually in March and July.Ĭhelated iron is my third product in the fight against iron chlorosis. This is basically the same product as the iron sulfate, but it adds some nitrogen for green growth, which is especially beneficial during the summer months. A word of caution, however: Be careful not to get it on your concrete or other surfaces because it will discolor them.Īnother product that is helpful is Iron Plus. It starts as interveinal chlorosis, which is when the area on the leaves between the veins begin to turn yellow or red. The higher the pH, the worse the condition gets. Treat the affected tree every four to six months for best results. If the pH is above about 7.5-7.7, the iron gets tied up chemically and is not available to the plant, even though there still could be iron present in the soil. This helps to pull the pH down which in turn allows more iron to be available for the plant. Iron sulfate is of course sulfur which, when combined with water, turns into a weak sulfuric acid solution. The Autumn Blaze Maple’s capacity to adapt to urban environments is another outstanding characteristic of its environmental adaptation. Of course, the thing you are trying to do is to bring the pH down in your soil, and this can be done easily by adding iron sulfate. The Autumn Blaze Maple can establish itself and provide its numerous advantages, such as shade, beauty, and habitat, in a variety of situations, whether the soil is hard and compacted or sandy and well-draining. The good news is that this iron deficiency is easily treated using several products or a combination of them. Left unchecked, it can eventually kill your tree. This will stunt the plant even if it’s well fertilized, so if you’ve been following a fertilizer schedule, but you are seeing some of these signs, then this is probably what’s going on with your tree. As it progresses, necrosis sets in, and the leaves will actually turn black if untreated.

If the pH is above about 7.5-7.7, the iron gets tied up chemically and is not available to the plant, even though there still could be iron present in the soil. It’s caused by high pH in your soil, which in turn causes an iron deficiency. Since I know it’s way too early for that to happen naturally, that appearance is usually caused by a condition called iron chlorosis, and it’s easily treated.Īutumn Blaze and Hot Wings Maples seem to be affected most often, and although it usually affects maples, it can also affect other trees.

Watering is crucial for new trees to establish a strong root system. The tree might drop some of those leaves and regrow new ones this summer if watered properly. See the website above for information on watering trees.One of the maple trees in my yard is looking like fall has arrived because it is already turning red. The immediate problem is not enough water. Trees like this maple often blow over in storms because they can bend and stretch with the wind if the root flare and circling root issues are not corrected. An arborist can clean and cut circling roots if they aren’t too bad. Maple trees are especially prone to this problem. If circling roots check with a arborist. Circling roots can slowly strangle/kill a tree. If no circling roots keep dirt off the roots. Check for any roots circling around the tree. Keep pulling the soil away until you can see the roots coming out from the trunk.

You can see how the bark has deteriorated.
