Yellowing Chlorotic Trees can be a Thing of the Past with Organo-Lawn’s Tree IV

Trees across the Front Range that may seem to be turning prematurely yellow this summer are actually sick, suffering from a biotic condition called Iron Chlorosis. Chlorotic trees are common in areas such as Colorado’s Front Range that have high pH soils. The iron and magnesium in the soil is not available to the trees and therefore the trees cannot produce chlorophyll. According to the City of Boulder Forester, Cathleen Alexander, the highest concentration of chlorotic trees in Boulder is east of Broadway, where soils are more acidic.*

Chlorosis, which means “lack of chlorophyll,” creates symptoms identified with the name, characterized by yellow leaves, slow growth, and branch dieback. Oaks, maples, birches and aspen trees frequently develop this condition, but other trees can also develop chlorosis. If left untreated, chlorotic trees will eventually die. But there is an all-natural solution, offered by Organo-Lawn throughout the Front Range.

Organo-Lawn’s “Tree IV” treats the trees by injecting a liquid concentrate of chelated iron and magnesium which eventually allows the tree to produce chlorophyll once again, and return back to its true green state. The sooner the tree is treated, the better the chance for a full recovery. Untreated trees will eventually get worse and die and early treatment is much less expensive than replacing the tree. The cost of treatment depends on the size of the tree but small trees up to 7” trunk diameter start at $85.00.

“The key is to catch the chlorosis early to help ensure successful treatment,” says Brad Wolfe, founder and CEO of Boulder-based Organo-Lawn. “The trees will not recover on their own, they just get worse each year. If you ignore the problem, a chlorotic tree will certainly die in a few years. The more severe the chlorosis the harder it is to for the tree to uptake the iron injections and it may never produce chlorophyll again.”

Soils along the Front Range have adequate to high iron levels, but since the soils are mostly alkaline, most of the iron is in a form not available to the plants. Chlorosis is also aggravated by cold soil temperatures, high soil moisture, relatively large amounts of copper, magnesium or zinc, and/or excessive phosphorus applications. The lack of available iron in the soil can result in the leaves not producing the normal amount of green chlorophyll pigment necessary for the normal growth and development of all trees.

*A Boulder area neighborhood particularly affected with cholorotic trees is Cross Ridge, on the corner of 95th and Arapahoe.

Organo-Lawn’s Tree IV
The Tree IV system works similarly to an IV used in a hospital. Small holes are drilled in the tree’s trunk near the base of the tree. These holes do not cause irreparable damage to the tree. Injection plugs are then attached into the holes and injection needles are placed into the tree’s trunk. Using air pressure, the tree is injected with the mixture of chelated iron and magnesium. The tree has no choice but to accept the concentrated liquid mixture injected into the xylem layer of the tree. Depending on the stage of chlorosis, the treatment process takes anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours.


Most treated trees will turn brown and lose their leaves. For this reason, its best to treat chlorotic trees toward the end of the summer season in August or September, before they go dormant in the fall. Successfully treated trees will produce green, healthy foliage the next season. Depending on the stage of chlorosis, the tree may need a second treatment the following spring.

“Using the Tree IV to introduce chelated iron and magnesium directly into the vascular system of the tree is the most effective way to correct chlorotic conditions,” says Rick Roehm, President of the Colorado Association of Lawn Care Professionals. “While root and foliage treatments are also available, the nutrients may get caught up in the root system, or never make it past the leaves to reach the crucial portion of the tree that allows for proper absorption.”

The Tree IV is meant to bring the tree out of its chlorotic state, but after that the tree should get deep root tree fertilization with chelated iron twice per year to help prevent chlorosis in the future. Depending on the alkaline levels of the soil and the type of tree affected, the Tree IV system may be required again in subsequent years if the tree becomes chlorotic again.

About Organo-Lawn
Boulder-based Organo-Lawn was founded in 1997 by Brad Wolfe whose goal was to create an alternative to conventional, 100 percent chemical-based lawn care companies by using products that are both environmentally and people friendly. Organo-Lawn’s proprietary lawn-care products include the 100 percent organic weed control called Synergy and Pax Terra Plus (fertilizer) which are specifically designed to work with Colorado’s soil conditions. The company provides both 100 percent organic lawn care programs as well as combination packages such as their “Smarter Weed Control” program which allows the homeowner to spot treat voracious weeds with a limited exposure to synthetic pesticides. Organo-Lawn’s green commitment extends past the lawn service: Ten Organo-Lawn service trucks are fueled with B100 biodiesel; the office and shop are powered by 100 percent wind or solar energy; all service technicians are outfitted with 100 percent organic cotton shirts; and every year Organo-Lawn plants at least four new trees at their office to reduce their overall carbon footprint. For more information visit www.organolawn.com.

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