Round-Up Victim

[MarsCrash]

One of my customers had her lawn replaced last year, and the jackasses who did it bombarded the root system of her bloodgood Japanese maple with Round-Up. Is there anything I can do to help it? Deep root feeding? Sacrifice a live chicken? Anything?

 

[Urbicide]

I am not sure what to tell you in this case. I use some herbicides on my woodlot to control invasives and prevent stump sprouting. Glyphosphate is absorbed through the foliage or through cut surfaces. It is not normally absorbed through the bark. Part of the "attractiveness" of this herbicide is that it readily attaches itself to soil particles where it will eventually break down instead of migrating through the soil. Did the lawn guys directly squirt exposed roots that may have been damaged or did they get wind drift onto the foliage? This was done last year? That the tree is still alive gives some hope. It must not have gotten a lethal dose. Some TLC may help it. Hopefully someone more qualified may give you some sage advice.

 

[Adkpk]

Yes, sacrifice live chicken and then cut it with a chainsaw.

 

[Elmore]

Buy a replacement Maple and grant clemency to chicken.

 

[BayouTree]

What condition is the maple in right now?

 

[MarsCrash]

Jap maple

It's pretty wilty. One section is dead, and some areas have tip dieback.

 

[Urban Forester]

With the summer we've had I wouldn't be shocked to see leaf scorch/tip dieback/drought stress. Jap Maples can leaf scorch even if watered properly. If stress is a factor then the onset of vert. wilt/nectria canker is always a possibilty.