Light green leaves

[didireallysaythat]

The new leaves on the hornbeam hedge and strawberries we planted last year are predominantly lighter, lime green leaves. The soil is chalky and we are adding compost and (well rotted) manure as we go along.

Does the light green growth suggest nitrogen deficiency ? And if so, what's the best way to remedy this (short and long term) ? I'd like to try and keep everything healthy.

I've had a google but most links are to the effects of a nitrogen deficiency on cannabis crops...

[shovetheholly]

Can you post a picture? Most hornbeam leaves (like the leaves of other trees) come through a light colour and gradually go darker as the tannic compounds build up with photosynthesis. (Trees are much darker in late August than in May!). However, if they are actually yellow, something is up.

[didireallysaythat]

shove - I'm away with work at the mo but I'll stick up a photo when I get back. Thank you !

[didireallysaythat]

Photos as promised - the hornbeam in a pot is darker than the planted ones, and the strawberries in the other photo are also pale.

[shovetheholly]

Hmmm, yes that doesn't look right.

I am bemused because hornbeam is normally seen as one of those problem-free plants, and should be OK on chalk. Strawberries are not exactly renowned for being very 'hungry' plants in terms of nitrogen either.

Overwatering could cause this - in which case it would be chlorosis (an iron problem). It looks more like this to me than nitrogen deficiency, which often gives a reddish tinge to leaves. Have you been very liberal with the can? This would be my first guess.

Nitrogen problems are also a possibility, though. This is a bit tricky, because yellow leaves could be caused BOTH by too little AND by too much! If you have been digging in very great quantities of very fresh manure, it can actually lead to excesses of nitrogen which makes plants go yellow. But too little N can also cause that symptom! I'm guessing, given that you're on chalk, that a deficiency is more likely (in which case, apply a fertilized with high nitrogen!)

[didireallysaythat]

Shove thank you SO much for thinking about this ! I haven't watered the hedge at all - we live on the edge of the fens so if anything I'd worry that the hedge doesn't have enough water as we get very little rain and a strong easterly wind (the hedge separates the garden from farm land so it's very exposed).

We had a privet hedge removed and planted the hedge about 18 months ago. We dug a compost bin into the soil before we planted to improve the soil. I have mulched with shredded plant material - would that leach nitrogen ?

Not sure why the strawberries would also be unhappy - the soil is chalky but they were OK last summer. The potatoes look fine.

Would a general fertiser such as chicken manure help ? I guess the hedge is actively growing at the moment so would need nutrients ??

[shovetheholly]

Hmmmm, I'm hoping someone else can help from the allotment thread as I am puzzled. I would have thought a bin full of compost would be enough to establish a hornbeam hedge on most soils.

Maybe try a nitrogen-rich fertilizer? Something with a bit of phosphorus in too, as it could be that.