When to Spread Ironite on Shrubs

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

• Iron is an essential element in shrubs for chlorophyll production. Chlorophyll is the pigment that makes foliage green. When plants become deficient in iron their leaves turn yellow, a disorder called chlorosis. Iron deficiency is common in plants grown in soils with a pH above 6.5. At these levels iron is not able to move through the soil into the plant, resulting in a deficiency in the plant. First signs of chlorosis are seen in new leaves. They become yellow but veins remain green. Have your soil tested to determine the problem is related to pH and not the product of insect damage. Examine leaves for insect activity; some insects can suck fluid out of leaves, resulting in yellowing, or infect plants with disease-causing organisms resulting in yellowing.

Ironite Plus

• Ironite Plus is a complete fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 12-10-10 plus 2 percent iron. You can use it to treat chlorosis in shrubs 3 to 4 feet in width by applying 1/4 pound Ironite Plus in the spring, then repeat after flowers drop in early summer. Apply by spreading granules evenly beneath the shrub, then water into the soil. Ironite Plus provides iron in iron sucrate and iron oxide forms, plus nitrogen that helps with greening plants.

Ironite Mineral Supplement Formula

• This formula does not contain all of the essential nutrients. It has an N-P-K ratio of 1-0-1 and contains 4.5 percent iron. It is intended to be a supplement to a complete fertilizer, so apply to established ornamental and evergreen shrubs with a regular fertilizer the plants need iron, such as when leaves show signs of chlorosis. The label recommends applying it beneath the drip line (the outer perimeter of the branches) of shrubs at a rate of 1 pound per 100 square feet. This formula also contains other nutrients.

Liquid Ironite Plus

• The N-P-K ratio of this liquid formula is 6-2-1, plus it contains 1 percent iron. Apply to the soil as a drench around the base of the shrub at the first signs of yellowing, then every two to four weeks as needed throughout the growing season. The label cautions against applying more than 26 times in one year. Because this product contains heavy metals, guard against drift into nearby bodies of water by spraying on a calm day. When applying to soil, don’t let it puddle and run off into neighborhood storm drains.