Nine surface soil acidification treatments were tested to determine which were effective in preventing the development of chlorosis in white oak seedlings. The treatments were applied with and without subsurface sulfuric acid to white oak seedlings purposely planted in calcareous soil. Nutrient imbalances as compared to healthy seedlings consisted of low foliar nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, iron, and copper for uniformly chlorotic seedlings. Interveinally chlorotic seedlings exhibited low nitrogen and iron and high potassium. Miracid, Hi‐Acid, and ammonium sulfate surface treatments were highly effective in preventing chlorosis provided that subsurface treatment was omitted. Except when applied with H2SO4, A12SO4, and granular sulfur surface treatments, subsurface H2SO4had an adverse effect on treatment success.