How to Use Chelated Iron in a Garden
The most important factor in achieving a beautiful lawn and garden is the condition of the soil. A rich, deep green color and lots of vigorous growth are the signs of a healthy tree, shrub or plant. Supplementing soil with iron can give your lawn and garden that lush, verdant color and keep plants strong and viable. It's easy to turn withered, yellowing, iron-starved plants green again with an application of chelated iron. This supplement provides iron in a form that is immediately active in gardens and lawns, quickly helping to correct the yellowing effects of iron chlorosis (yellowing due to iron deficiency). Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Test your soil. Take a sample to your local landscape center or state extension office to check the nutrient content of the soil. If you have a large garden, take samples from different planting areas, as soil composition can change significantly from one area to another.
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Treat an iron deficiency discovered in the soil sample test results by applying chelated iron, readily available at garden centers. Talk to a gardening professional to determine the best product for your lawn and garden. There are many different formulations available, so follow the application instructions on the specific product you purchase. Shield your skin with protective garden gloves.
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Cultivate old tins, nails and metal shavings into the soil at the base of trees and shrubs. The metal will slowly decompose, adding beneficial iron to the soil.
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Sprinkle blood meal on gardens and lawns according to package instructions. This is a common product regularly stocked in garden centers.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid getting granulated iron or powders on concrete, stone or brick walkways, driveways and patios. Sweep these areas well after application. Iron stains porous surfaces a bright orange, though it must come in contact with water in order to create a stain.
Iron deficiency in soil is often associated with a high pH level (above 7.0), so you can help prevent the iron deficiency from existing in the first place by keeping your soil's pH level in check.
Iron is an effective killer of lawn moss, so avoid getting it in flowerbeds or rock gardens where you may wish to encourage moss growth.
