Nine soil surface treatments and one planting‐hole treatment were tested for their effectiveness in stimulating growth and preventing chlorosis of pin oak (Quercus palustris) seedlings planted in calcareous soil. Planting‐hole acidification was highly effective, especially in combination with a surface treatment of either sulfuric acid or aluminum sulfate. Ammonium sulfate lowered soil pH but was detrimental to the seedlings. Nutrient concentrations in uniformly chlorotic leaves were different from those in interveinally chlorotic leaves, but both types were characterized by low zinc.