A fast and easy way to get rid of weeds is to use one of the popular weed killers – just spray it on and the weeds die within days. But what if that same product contacts desirable plants, like your roses, vegetables, or fruit trees? You certainly don’t want them exposed. Herbicides, aka weed killers, are designed specifically to kill plants – if it’s green and it’s growing, an herbicide can kill it. Before using any type of weed killer, STOP. THINK. PROTECT. It’s good to know what your risks are. Check out this list of herbicide products to learn more about a product you might be thinking of using.
Even if you don’t use weed killers, your plants may be injured as a result of herbicides being used on nearby properties. Products that are sprayed can drift, reaching your plants.
Herbicide damage can appear as malformed, distorted leaves and shoots, stunted shoots and roots, or chlorotic, necrotic, or spotted leaves. Symptoms can vary depending on the product used. It’s usually most severe on plants nearest to where it was applied and had the greatest exposure. Unlike with most diseases and insects, when an herbicide is the cause of the problem, often more than one plant species is damaged. In some cases, plants will be stunted, growth will be atypically slow. In the worst cases, desirable plants will die. If you suspect herbicide damage, this diagnostic tool maybe be helpful.