Maple and Oak Leaves are Wilting

My white oak and red maple have pale green and yellow leaves with dark green veins. This year a few leaves turned brown and the trees are not looking good. Please help.

Melinda:

Start with a soil test. It appears the soil is alkaline and tying up the iron and manganese your plants need. Add chelated forms of these nutrients (sold as Miracid and Greenol) for a quick green.

Then start working on a long-term solution. Remove the grass under the tree (at least a 10-foot by 10-foot area). Add elemental sulfur and mulch. In 2 or 3 years, the trees will start showing improvement. Or, consult a certified arborist who can use sulfuric acid to lower the pH.