Yates Leaf Greener Copper Chelate 500mL – Liquid Trace Element for Copper Deficiency

Yates Leaf Greener Copper Chelate 500mL: Liquid Trace Element for Copper Deficiency

Yates Leaf Greener Copper Chelate is an easy-to-use liquid trace element that corrects copper deficiency in plants. It's a targeted product rather than a general fertiliser, designed to fix one specific problem quickly. It contains copper as copper lignosulfonate chelate at 1.25% w/v.

Is Copper Actually the Problem?

Worth checking before you buy, because yellowing leaves have several possible causes and copper is one of the less common ones.

Copper deficiency shows up as yellowing of the younger leaves, together with die-back of the tips of young shoots. That combination is the giveaway. It's noticeably more common in sandy or acidic soils than in clay soils, and it turns up most often in citrus, vines and vegetable crops.

If it's the older, lower leaves yellowing instead, you're more likely looking at a nitrogen problem. If it's yellowing between the veins on young leaves without the shoot die-back, iron is the more likely culprit. Matching the product to the actual deficiency saves you money and gets a result.

Foliar Is the Recommended Method

Yates recommends applying this as a foliar spray, and there's good reasoning behind it. Spraying delivers copper straight to the leaves that need it, so you see results faster than waiting for roots to take it up.

It also puts far less copper into your soil than a traditional soil drench does. That matters, because copper accumulates in soil over time and can build up to levels that become toxic to plants. Foliar application means less waste and a lower risk of that build-up.

Formulated to Reduce Leaf Burn

This product uses a lignosulfonate chelate rather than the EDTA chelates most trace element products use, and it behaves differently as a result. It releases the copper gradually, which reduces the risk of leaf burn that can come with a straight metal salt or a fast-releasing chelate.

It also sticks firmly to the foliage and is rain-fast in 2 to 3 hours, so a shower later in the day won't undo your work.

How to Use

Foliar spray (recommended, but not for stone fruit):
Mix 10 to 15 mL in 1 litre of water and apply with a garden sprayer. Spray to lightly wet the leaves, stopping before run-off. Repeat every 2 to 4 weeks.

Soil drench (use this method for stone fruit):
Mix 15 to 30 mL in 5 litres of water and apply to moist soil around the plant, every 2 to 4 weeks.

Do not use the foliar spray on stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, cherries). Stone fruit are sensitive to copper on the foliage, so use the soil drench method for these instead.

Apply when symptoms appear, and use smaller, more frequent applications rather than one large dose. Avoid spraying in extreme heat or when rain is imminent.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and keep out of reach of children and pets.

Key Features & Benefits

• Corrects copper deficiency quickly in affected plants

• Copper as copper lignosulfonate chelate, 1.25% w/v

• Works differently from other chelates, releasing copper gradually to minimise leaf burn

• Sticks firmly to foliage and is rain-fast in 2 to 3 hours

• Foliar application puts far less copper into the soil than a drench

• Suits citrus, grapevines, vegetables and ornamentals

• Easy to mix and apply with a standard garden sprayer

• 500mL bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the active ingredient in Yates Copper Chelate?
Copper (Cu) as copper lignosulfonate chelate at 1.25% w/v.

How do I use it?
As a foliar spray, mix 10 to 15 mL in 1 litre of water and spray to lightly wet the leaves without run-off, repeating every 2 to 4 weeks. For stone fruit, use a soil drench instead: 15 to 30 mL in 5 litres of water applied to moist soil, every 2 to 4 weeks.

How do I know my plant has copper deficiency?
Look for yellowing of the younger leaves combined with die-back of the tips of young shoots. It's more common in sandy or acidic soils. If the older leaves are yellowing instead, the problem is more likely nitrogen; if young leaves yellow between the veins without shoot die-back, iron is more likely.

Can I use it on stone fruit?
Not as a foliar spray. Stone fruit such as peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries should be treated with the soil drench method instead.

How is this different from other copper chelates?
It uses a lignosulfonate chelate rather than EDTA, releasing copper gradually to reduce leaf burn risk. It also sticks firmly to the foliage and becomes rain-fast within 2 to 3 hours.

Why is foliar spraying recommended over a soil drench?
It delivers copper straight to the leaves that need it for faster results, and it adds much less copper to the soil. Copper accumulates in soil over time, so foliar application means less wastage and lower risk of soil toxicity.

How often should I apply it?
Every 2 to 4 weeks while symptoms are present. Smaller, more frequent applications work better than a single heavy dose.

Is this a fungicide?
No. This is a liquid fertiliser and trace element for correcting copper deficiency, not a copper fungicide for disease control. Yates makes a separate Liquid Copper Fungicide for leaf curl, leaf spots and blights.