Tree Abuse

My sweet gum tree is chlorotic!


And I think its my fault!

NOTE: you can tell chlorosis by the fact that you can clearly see a difference between the darker green veins and the the more yellow-green area between the veins.

If there were a tree police, I'd probably be locked up for tree abuse.



As I have explained in earlier posts, I have had problems with the grass growing under the sweet gum due to both shade and moisture issues - this is just the nature of sweet gum trees, which send out VERY shallow roots.

My solution was to remove all the grass at the base area, cover the area with mulch, and throw in a few hardier ground covers (mondo grass, liriope, asian jasmine) for a little color. However, in the process of doing this, I might have disturbed a few roots.

OK, OK.... I confess... I disturbed a LOT of roots, but mostly smaller ones. And, in my opinion, hardly enough to cause chlorosis. But the evidence is there....

So now I am paying the penalty - money and time. I bought some Iron supplement and spent time applying it to the root area in the hopes that this will ameliorate the situation.

Fingers crossed!

Below: One of the larger roots snaking through the grass like a huge python. ;-)