Iron injections vs soil treatment - Ask Extension
I have 2 Catalina Pear trees. Both are extremely Chlorotic. They both had damage from bomb cyclone a few years ago. I have been advised they need iro...
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Iron injections vs soil treatment #877395
Asked July 15, 2024, 9:18 PM EDT
I have 2 Catalina Pear trees. Both are extremely Chlorotic. They both had damage from bomb cyclone a few years ago. I have been advised they need iron injections. My soil is 5.5 pH. Would the injections help save the tree more than my drilling holes in the soil and using EDDHA iron and sulfur? It is True Green lawn and tree service and they claim their arborist would do this, but I am concerned it might do more damage than good as one of the trees lost significant bark from that storm. It has grown back but is not as robust as the older bark. I would like to save them and not do more damage
Thank you,
Jacqueline Burger
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Ms. Burger,
You mentioned damage to the bark. Would you please send photos of the tree trunks, both at the bottom (at ground level, where the tree trunks flare) and at the points where you notice the bark is damaged?
I am wondering if, as you suspect, part of the problem may be that the bark is damaged. That would seem to explain why only one side of the tree is so mis-shapen in the first photo. Also,
I would be interested in seeing if there are girdling roots around the trunk.
When were your trees planted? Would you please tell us more about your watering program for these trees?
Here's some information for you about chlorosis that you may want to read before you contract for treatment: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/zinc-and-iron-deficiencies-0-545/
We look forward to seeing photos of your trees soon.
Thank you.
Sue, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
You mentioned damage to the bark. Would you please send photos of the tree trunks, both at the bottom (at ground level, where the tree trunks flare) and at the points where you notice the bark is damaged?
I am wondering if, as you suspect, part of the problem may be that the bark is damaged. That would seem to explain why only one side of the tree is so mis-shapen in the first photo. Also,
I would be interested in seeing if there are girdling roots around the trunk.
When were your trees planted? Would you please tell us more about your watering program for these trees?
Here's some information for you about chlorosis that you may want to read before you contract for treatment: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/agriculture/zinc-and-iron-deficiencies-0-545/
We look forward to seeing photos of your trees soon.
Thank you.
Sue, Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
Hello Sue,
I believe the trees are about 23 years old. They were here before we bought this house. The bark damage is on the tree that is in the better condition of the two. I am enclosing some pictures. Thank you for your help. We water with irrigation water in the summer but try to water with our potable water about every other month, as we are not supposed to use our water for outdoors.
Thank you,
Jacqy Burger
Hi Jacqueline,
Thank you for sending the photos! I have had a chance to review your photos and the message you received from Sue.
The bark damage doesn’t concern me. It doesn’t seem severe enough to have caused any significant damage to your tree.
I see that Sue sent you information about chlorosis and treatment. I wanted to add that the issue with trees and iron here in Colorado is not a lack of iron in the soil. There is plenty of it in the soil. The issue is the pH. As you indicated in your original message, it is very alkaline. The alkalinity doesn’t allow the tree to absorb the iron present in the soil. As a result, adding iron to the soil won’t help the tree. Unfortunately that does mean that the iron injections and foliar spray are our only option here. However, foliar spray is usually not feasible with larger trees.
I hope this helps with determining the best path forward with your tree. Please let us know if you have any further questions!
Sara
Thank you for sending the photos! I have had a chance to review your photos and the message you received from Sue.
The bark damage doesn’t concern me. It doesn’t seem severe enough to have caused any significant damage to your tree.
I see that Sue sent you information about chlorosis and treatment. I wanted to add that the issue with trees and iron here in Colorado is not a lack of iron in the soil. There is plenty of it in the soil. The issue is the pH. As you indicated in your original message, it is very alkaline. The alkalinity doesn’t allow the tree to absorb the iron present in the soil. As a result, adding iron to the soil won’t help the tree. Unfortunately that does mean that the iron injections and foliar spray are our only option here. However, foliar spray is usually not feasible with larger trees.
I hope this helps with determining the best path forward with your tree. Please let us know if you have any further questions!
Sara
