Soil Deficiency, Symptoms & Treatments

May 06, 2010

by Margaret Inwood, Lanark County Master Gardeners

If the leaves on your plants are turning yellow and the overall growth of the plant is stunted, the soil is lacking nitrogen and you should add manure or bloodmeal.

If the undersides of leaves, veins and stems of your plants are a reddish purple colour, it means that the soil is deficient in phosphorus and you could add rock phosphate, bone meal or fish emulsion.

If there is a bronzing of, curling and/or drying of the leaf margins and the overall growth of the plant is slow, this means that your soil lacks potassium and you should add wood ashes or granite dust.

If there are yellow spots on upper leaves and curling of young leaf tips, it means that calcium is lacking and you should add limestone to the soil.

When there are spotted pale areas on new leaves or yellow leaf tips, this indicates an iron deficiency in the soil and you should add manure.

If there is yellowing of lower leaves and the stems are hard, it means that sulphur should added to the soil.

When leaves are unusually long and narrow, with yellowing and areas of dead tissue, this indicates a zinc deficiency and the soil should be amended with manure.

When overall plant growth is slow, add manure and compost to improve the lack of manganese in the soil.

Every plant will look lush and healthy if all the necessary nutrients are present in the soil.

All your gardening questions can be submitted to www.lanarkmastergardeners.mgoi.ca. We’ll answer them!