Tree Damage From Crop Spraying

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In Illinois, records show herbicide damage to nature preserves |Johnathan Hettinger​

More than 60 areas managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resource, including state parks and nature preserves, reported herbicide damage in 2018 or 2019, according to records obtained by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting via the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Below are excerpts of damage reports at DNR lands across Illinois.

The 25-acre Marissa Woods Nature Preserve in St. Clair County is a good example of an undisturbed forest and likely was once a savannah that is now changing due to lack of fire. In 2019, biologists reported two dozen dead oaks, along with more than 100 oak and hickory trees showing significant herbicide damage.

The 35-acre Julius J. Knobeloch Woods in St. Clair County is designed to provide “educational opportunities to those who might otherwise never experience a natural area” and includes a .7 mile scenic drive. In 2019, Biologists observed damage in 12 species from 10 plant families. “Thin canopies, dieback, and mortality appear to have trended upward since 2017.” About 30 trees, mostly oaks, had recently died.

The 2,900-acre Big River State Forest in Henderson County is “a remnant of a vast prairie woodland border area that once covered much of Illinois and home to two endangered plants.” In 2019, state biologists reported that some trees had died “likely from previous years’ damage. All new growth (this year’s growth) was affected by brown patches or cupping at margins.”

The 196-acre Sipple Slough Woods in Washington County is home to a locally rare population of a wildflower called Aureolaria grandiflora. But in 2019, biologists reported that it was “significantly depressed” and that more than 100 oak trees had herbicide damage. The site had been damaged the year before. “Overall foliage injury level appears less than in 2018 but the overall health of the oak trees at this site has not improved and appears to have declined slightly. A number of trees demonstrate epicormic branching and dieback with some mortality.”

Mature oaks “have been dying for several years” at the 40-acre Goode’s Woods in Macoupin County, and nearly all mature oaks have reduced leaf size and thin canopy coverage, state biologists reported in 2019.

The 12-acre Sunbury Railroad Prairie in Livingston County preserves rare but important habitat for several mammals and grassland birds. But in 2019, species damaged by herbicide damage included ”obedient plant, woodland sunflowers (approx. 100 individuals), drooping coneflower, rigid goldenrod, milkweed, leadplant, bee-balm monarda, round-headed bush clover, flowering spurge, ironweed, asters, prairie dropseed, cherry, and prairie dock.”

 

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Dicamba drift affects non-target plants and pollinators​

DECEMBER 3, 2015

By By Sara La Jeunesse

The scientists found that application of dicamba inhibited or delayed flowering in common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), resulting in significantly reduced visitation by insect species, including honeybees (pollinators) and syrphid flies (natural enemies). The image shows a damaged E. perfoliatum plant that received a rate of 56 grams of dicamba per hectare. Credit: Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Dicamba herbicide drift onto plants growing adjacent to farm fields causes significant delays in flowering, as well as reduced flowering, of those plants, and results in decreased visitation by honey bees, according to researchers at Penn State and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.

"Because of the challenge of glyphosate-resistant weeds, new types of transgenic crops that are resistant to synthetic-auxin herbicides including dicamba and 2,4-D will be widely planted in coming growing seasons, raising concerns about damage from these drift-prone herbicides," said John Tooker, associate professor of entomology, Penn State. "The expected high rate of adoption of the new transgenic crops will increase dicamba and 2,4-D use by four to eight times. Our results suggest that widespread non-target damage from these herbicides may adversely affect pollinator communities."

The team examined the crop species alfalfa (Medicago sativa), which requires insect pollination to produce seeds, and the native plant species common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum), which is highly attractive to a wide range of pollinator species. The researchers applied a range of sub-lethal doses of dicamba to the plants, then tracked flowering and floral visitation by insect species. They identified the types of insects visiting the flowers and analyzed pollen quality to determine if herbicide exposure altered pollen quality.

The scientists found that exposure to drift-level doses of herbicide reduced flowering in both plant species. In addition, herbicide-damaged common boneset experienced significantly reduced visitation by insect species, including honeybees (pollinators) and syrphid flies (natural enemies). The results appear in the November 24 online issue of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and will be published in the January 2016 print issue.

"We found that both plant species are susceptible to very low rates of dicamba -- just 0.1 to 1 percent of the expected field application rate can negatively influence flowering," said Tooker. "By extension, we expect that other broadleaf plant species are similarly susceptible to this sort of damage from drift-level doses."

According to David Mortensen, professor of weed and applied plant ecology, Penn State, synthetic-auxin herbicides are usually used early in the growing season, but with the new transgenic crop varieties coming on the market, these herbicides will be used later when temperatures are warmer and more plant species are leafed out.

"This will lead to higher levels of non-target damage to susceptible crop plants and native, wild vegetation," he said. "For susceptible crop varieties, this sort of damage could reduce yield. For non-crop plant species, this drift-induced damage could significantly decrease the pollinator and natural enemy communities that these plants can support."

The team currently is working to determine the proportion of non-crop habitat in the corn/soybean belt that could be degraded for pollinator communities by drift of dicamba and/or 2,4-D.

"This is particularly relevant because the great majority of floristic diversity in agro-ecosystems resides in small fragments of semi-natural habitat around arable fields," said Mortensen. "And the quality of these fragments may be substantially degraded by repeat exposure of dicamba or 2,4-D drift."

Two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "Science to Achieve Results" Fellowships supported this research.

Other authors on the paper include Eric Bohnenblust, former graduate student in entomology, Penn State; Anthony Vaudo, graduate student in entomology, Penn State; and Franklin Egan, director of educational programs, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.

 

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HERBICIDE DAMAGE TO PLANTS​

2,4-D herbicide damage on leaves of white redbud (Cercis)
Overview
*( TNTreehugger added: Your Department of Agriculture inspector will do the plant tissue sample test for free)

Herbicide damage can be hard to diagnose. A trained individual can generally tell when damage from an herbicide is a possible cause, but validation requires a laboratory test of the plant tissue and/or the soil while the chemical is still present. Such tests can cost between $65 and $150 per sample or more. Individual tests need to be made for each suspected herbicide. Testing may not be available for some herbicides. More commonly, a circumstantial case is made after a thorough examination of the damaged plant(s), surrounding plants, the pattern of damage, the likelihood of damage occurring given the suspected point of herbicide application, and the history of the symptoms.

2,4-D herbicide damage to foliage of ginkgo (Ginkgo)

Symptoms and Diagnosis

General symptoms can include one or more of the following symptoms: curling or cupped leaves, stunted growth, discolored leaves, or leaves with dead spots. The same herbicide may cause different symptoms in different plant species.

Since herbicides do not leave a "calling card" like mites, insects, and diseases (but the damage they cause can be mistaken for herbicide damage), it is advised to rule these out first. Other disorders that produce symptoms that can resemble herbicide damage include virus diseases, adverse weather, salt damage, drought, soil compaction, misapplied fertilizers, root stress, and nutrient deficiencies. Excluding these as causes requires a close examination of the site and attention to patterns. Is the pattern of damaged plants consistent with drifting spray? Is more than just one kind of plant affected? Did the symptoms appear within one or two days (in most cases) of the suspected application of an herbicide? Were any lawn weed control products used in the area, including weed and feed products containing an herbicide? The answer to these and other questions can help make a circumstantial case of herbicide damage.

Distorted new growth on Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) caused by herbicide injury

Recovery Prognosis

Recovery of plants damaged by herbicides is dependent upon many factors including the amount of initial damage incurred as well as what herbicide caused the damage. Trees and shrubs that receive minor damage from a broadleaf herbicide such as 2,4-D are likely to recover or have only minor damage. Trees and shrubs that have been damaged by dicamba which was applied to a lawn area and then was washed down into the root system of trees and shrubs can show damage for several years as they gradually recover. Plants damaged by soil sterilant herbicides are the least likely to recover.

Plants that show signs of growing out of the problem will likely recover. Plants that appear to lose vigor may not. The survival of damaged plants can be increased by reducing other stresses. Water during dry periods, fertilize according to a soil test report to increase vigor, and watch for and control any insect or disease problems.

Severe herbicide injury to tomato (Lycopersicon)

Herbicide injury on apple leaves (Malus)

Blotches and spots on underside of oak leaf (Quercus) caused by herbicide injury

For more information and/or to file a complaint in Missouri or Illinois, click on the link below:

Missouri residents

Illinois residents

Organic Strategies

Organic strategies that help plants recover from herbicide damage are those that aid in maintaining plant vigor: water during dry periods; fertilize with organic fertilizer according to a soil test report; and watch for and control any insect or disease problems using organic approaches.

 

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EPA Opens Required Public Comment Period for Proposed Dicamba Herbicide from Bayer CropScience​

EPA has received an application from Bayer CropScience LP for a new product containing the currently registered active ingredient dicamba. The proposed product includes use of dicamba on dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. Because the application involves a new use pattern for dicamba, the Agency is required to provide a 30-day public comment period on the registration applications consistent with FIFRA 3(c)(4). EPA is also seeking comment on the associated draft labeling that was submitted by Bayer, which is available in the docket.

The proposed labels would allow application to dicamba-tolerant soybeans made before, during, or immediately after planting until emergence of the seedling, but no later than June 12 of each year. Application to dicamba-tolerant cotton in this proposal would be allowed before, during, immediately after planting, or ‘over the top’ of the cotton plant, but no later than July 30 of each year. Please review Bayer’s proposed label for additional details.

Like all opportunities for public comment associated with notices of receipt of applications, this action should not be interpreted as a registrant proposal that has been endorsed for future approval by EPA. Should EPA determine that this or any other registrant-submitted application including over-the-top dicamba meets the standard for registration of a new use under FIFRA, EPA will provide a separate opportunity for public comment on the proposed decision at a future time.

To read more about the registration application proposed by Bayer and submit a comment, see docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0154 on Regulations.gov. The public comment period will close 30 days after the publication date in the Federal Register. EPA will review public comments as part of the proposed application process and incorporate any feedback into the registration decision.

Background

Dicamba is an herbicide registered for use at specified stages in agricultural crop fields of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, sugarcane, and other crops. It was first registered for over-the-top (OTT) uses on dicamba-tolerant cotton and soybeans in 2016. In 2017 and again in 2018, EPA amended the registrations of all OTT dicamba products following reports that growers had experienced crop damage and economic losses resulting from the off-site movement of dicamba. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the 2018 registrations in June 2020 on the basis that “EPA substantially understated risks that it acknowledged and failed entirely to acknowledge other risks.” Days after the court’s decision, EPA issued an order for the affected products that addressed existing stocks.

In October 2020, EPA issued new registrations for two dicamba products and extended the registration of an additional dicamba product until 2025. All three registrations included new measures that the Agency expected to prevent off-target movement and damage to non-target crops and other plants. Further state-specific amendments to the registrations occurred in 2022 and 2023.

In response to a lawsuit against EPA concerning these registrations, on February 6, 2024, a ruling by the U.S. District Court of Arizona vacated the 2020 registrations for OTT dicamba products XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium. EPA issued an Existing Stocks Order on February 14, 2024 (later revised on March 12), to allow for limited sale and distribution of dicamba OTT products that were already in the possession of growers or in the channels of trade and outside the control of pesticide companies. The order also prohibits the use of these dicamba products except where the use is consistent with the previously approved labeling, which included measures intended to reduce environmental damage caused by offsite movement of the pesticide.

For further information, visit EPA’s page on Registration of Dicamba for Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Crops.

 

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Unintended herbicide injury on trees: A growing concern​

August 28, 2023

Michelle Wiesbrook
Overall, certified pesticide applicators do an excellent job keeping pesticides on target to protect crop yield and the aesthetics of various landscape settings. But in recent years, there have been increasing reports of what is believed to be herbicide damage on trees found particularly on state and private lands bordering agricultural fields. Additionally, there have been several mature trees severely injured or killed in southern Illinois and herbicide drift is strongly suspected to have played a role. In multiple cases, testing from Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) has confirmed the presence of the herbicides dicamba and/or 2,4-D in damaged foliage samples.

How are trees being affected?​

Trees are showing injury symptoms of or like that of plant growth regulator herbicides. These PGR herbicides mimic various growth regulating compounds found in plants and include dicamba, 2,4-D, triclopyr, MCPP, MCPA, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, and picloram. Various formulations of these are available for use by both private and commercial applicators and are frequently used in commercial agriculture and turfgrass maintenance. Typical injury symptoms of these growth regulator herbicides include leaves that are cupped, twisted, puckered, or curled. While some plant species (such as redbud) are known to be very sensitive to dicamba and 2,4-D, less is known about the sensitivity of other species. These herbicides can be toxic to broadleaved plants at ultra-low concentrations; 1/800 of the labeled rate can damage grapes. We also know that drift can travel long distances from the application site.

While it is true that often healthy, mature trees that inadvertently receive small amounts of pesticide drift in a single event will often grow out of the injury symptoms, the herbicide should not be on the trees in the first place. Even if an injured tree isn’t killed right away, the adverse effects could be long lasting. Multiple drift events can have cumulative, detrimental effects by causing prolonged stress to the plant.

Chronic exposure combined with predisposing stress factors such as drought, drainage problems, soil compaction, or pest problems may lead to tree decline or death. According to the Illinois Forestry Association’s (IFA) issue page on Off-Target Herbicide Drift, “Foliage damage appears to have contributed to a decline in health and increased mortality of many of our tree and plant species including, but not limited to oaks, elms, maples, redbud, honey locust, hickories, flowering dogwood, and sycamores.” Their members have documented damage in multiple counties.

Why is this an issue now?​

IDA inspectors and University of Illinois specialists believe the environmental conditions experienced in recent years (wet springs followed by hot, dry summers) have acted as an additional stress to trees. Adding herbicide injury to already stressed trees may just be the tipping point.

Dicamba and 2,4-D are now applied to MANY more acres than previously due to their use on tolerant soybean varieties. Also, early spring applications coincide with development of trees and other ornamentals. Since drift can’t often be seen with the naked eye, the applicator may not even know it is occurring. Therefore, drift prevention is key.

Multiple groups have been tracking herbicide injury to trees for the past several years. Recent editions of “Illinois Forest Health Highlights” written annually by Dr. Fredric Miller, Illinois Forest Health Specialist, have included a section on herbicide drift damage. Additionally, a statewide survey was conducted to ascertain how extensive the problem is and to better understand contributing factors. The 2022 report can be found here.

In 2022, the Prairie Rivers Network released their report, “Herbicide Drift and Chemical Trespass on Natural Landscapes & Habitats” for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. The intent was to provide a summary of legislative and monitoring efforts related to the current issues of herbicide drift. The report documented off-target impacts to natural areas and focused on 2,4-D and dicamba. The report mentioned there are five groups surveying, monitoring, and reporting tree damage from herbicide exposure. Oaks, redbuds, and sycamores are three species frequently showing damage, but 83 were reported with herbicide damage. Their website features pictures of injury symptoms and encourages citizen reporting to help document potential herbicide injury to trees and other broadleaf plants. Guidelines are provided for their online reporting system.

Most recently, the May issue of Outdoor Illinois featured the article, “Herbicide Drift Threatens Habitat Quality”. This public awareness piece describes what herbicide damage looks like and encourages readers to look for it.

Injury in larger trees may not be noticed due to tree size and location. Trees often go overlooked as background scenery by those who aren’t interested or maybe those who aren’t involved in forestry or landscaping. While trees in general may not generate the income that a grain crop can, they provide many benefits. Trees are essential to our ecosystem.

What is being done and what are the obstacles?​

To help keep these herbicides on target, state specific restrictions have been put in place and labels have been revised. But more attention to this issue is needed as proposed legislation lingers.

IDA is tracking and investigating herbicide misuse complaints on trees through all formal pesticide misuse complaints they receive that result in investigations. Misuse would include any label violation or misapplication, such as application drift onto not-target areas. In 2022, of 384 total misuse complaints 119 were determined to be dicamba related and 155 were tree related (including 41 complaints received from IDNR). All complaints in Illinois are forwarded to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). To help stress the importance of preventing unintended herbicide injury on trees, stricter penalties are being considered for misuse cases where trees are affected.

Herbicide injury often isn’t easy to diagnose as disease, insect, and low temperature injury can cause similar symptoms. Additionally, research is needed to determine what factors are contributing to these recent drift issues. IDA staff has noted that a challenging finding is the occurrence of two trees growing side by side but only one with injury symptoms. This makes it very difficult for IDA to pinpoint the source of the injury as patterns play a large role in diagnosis. Herbicide injury cannot be known with absolute certainty without tissue analysis confirming the herbicide or its metabolites is present. Tissue analysis is determined on a case-by-case basis. It is very expensive and not all laboratories use identical analytical techniques. Results can be difficult to interpret with respect to the degree of damage attributable to the herbicide when present. Research documenting the effects of various herbicide concentrations on trees of any species is generally lacking.

Industry groups support the message that applications need to stay on target. For dicamba applications on soybean, temperature and calendar restrictions among other label changes have been put in place to reduce drift via volatilization. It is the responsibility of the applicator to ensure that label directions and any additional restrictions are read, understood, and followed. No one wants herbicide drift to occur. Generally, the negative outcomes of herbicide drift far exceed any positive outcomes.

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Unintended injury to trees can result in even larger issues.​

Off-target damage can be expensive and time consuming not only for the applicator and the landowner, but also for attorneys and IDA staff. IDA’s pesticide misuse investigations take time and resources away from other projects with 1 field inspector conducting interviews and collecting samples, and then 3 staff members reviewing each case in the office. No one has time for drift. Prevention takes less time.

Frequent misuse may lead to additional laws and regulations. Last year, HB 4363 Dicamba Ban was introduced which would ban all dicamba use in the state. To bring awareness to the issue and rally support, affected property tours were held during National Pollinator Week. Not only were members of the public Invited, but also reporters, impacted individuals, state and local elected officials, representatives from various conservation and health organizations, and University of Illinois Extension. Tour hosts partnered with Illinois Public Interest Research Group and Environment Illinois on their campaign. This bill died in committed but was then proposed again in January 2023. This ban would include not only uses on corn and soybean but also uses on lawns, athletic turf, pastures, and roadsides. The effects of such a ban are wide reaching. Weed managers are dependent on ALL available tools with the prevalence of herbicide resistance challenges. Simply put, if we want to continue to use these herbicides, we need to be the best stewards possible.

What can applicators do to prevent potential injury to trees?​

It is of utmost importance that pesticide applicators take steps to minimize drift. Careless damage to personal property simply cannot be tolerated. IDNR has an online tool available for use by landowners, producers, and pesticide applicators to increase awareness of sensitive areas that include natural areas, Illinois Nature Preserves, state parks, and other sites. This “Natural Resources Awareness Tool for Applicators”, found at https://dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/chemical-drift-awareness-areas.html, was created in response to plant injury reports (especially on oak trees) that could potentially be attributed to drift from applications to nearby agricultural fields. The goal is that pre-application planning can prevent off-target drift.

Specific steps applicators can take include:

• Carefully read and follow all label directions.
• Note the proximity of sensitive areas and vegetation. Online tools such as “FieldCheck” and IDNR’s “Natural Resources Awareness Tool for Applicators” should be used. Applications to soybean are prohibited when the wind is blowing toward any Illinois Nature Preserves Commission site that is adjacent to the proposed field of application. Additionally, soybean applications are prohibited when the wind is blowing toward an adjacent residential area.
• Talk with neighbors to communicate where sensitive plants and areas are. Be courteous, sincere, and respectful.
• Use buffer strips of untreated vegetation or windbreaks.
• If winds are shifting, stop an application and finish later when conditions are favorable.
• Measure wind speed and direction at the boom before applying.
• Do not apply when winds are less than 3 mph or greater than 10 mph.
• Use drift reduction adjuvants and nozzles to reduce the likelihood of drift occurring.
• Check for the presence of an inversion before applying.
• Familiarize yourself with your herbicide’s expected injury symptoms on targeted weeds.
• Follow up after applications and look for injury on nearby non-target trees and other plants. Not looking for it does not mean it’s not there. Recognition is part of the battle.

Lastly, applicators should educate themselves on this issue. IFA provides an excellent summary of the whole situation on their website where they discuss why the damage is occurring now and provide helpful links for landowners and concerned citizens. They too provide a somewhat similar yet different list of ways that applicators can help prevent damage to trees.

For an excellent video that summarizes what to look for when diagnosing herbicide injury on trees with comparisons of other factors that cause similar symptoms, please view, “Recognizing Herbicide Damage to Trees Training” by University of Illinois Extension Forester, Chris Evans. Another video to check out is my webinar, “Safe Use of Herbicide in Natural Settings”.

In summary, the general public is increasingly aware of herbicide drift and damage; damage on trees is being noticed more than ever before. Applicators must be mindful that neighboring landscape trees and timber stands can be affected by their applications. Herbicides are important tools for combatting weeds. Users are reminded to take careful steps to prevent drift from occurring.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michelle Wiesbrook provides subject matter expertise and training in pesticide safety with an emphasis on horticultural weed science. She serves as the Illinois Pesticide Review newsletter editor, collecting and organizing material; and co-coordinates social media information for the PSEP program and ensures its timely publication.

 

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Use Glyphosate With Care Near Trees!​

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in non-selective, systemic herbicides sold under various trade names – Roundup, Accord, Glypro, and many others.
Updated:
December 15, 2022

Acer rubrum Red Sunset® on a commercial site with suspected glyphosate damage. Photo: S. Feather, Penn State

It is commonly used to manage weeds in landscape settings because it is economical, controls a broad spectrum of weeds, and is easy to use. It can be unforgiving because it is non-selective, and an accidental overspray onto desirable plants can be devastating. This is especially true for young trees that have thin bark and often have chlorophyll in their bark. Late-season misapplications to these non-target trees result in sub-lethal damage, and the effects can last for years.

Glyphosate is a systemic herbicide that moves through the phloem and accumulates in the roots. That is why it "kills weeds, roots and all." It breaks down quickly in the soil. However, when accidentally over-sprayed onto the thin or pigmented bark of young trees, glyphosate accumulates in the phloem and can take years to break down. It is then translocated to the roots along with the sugars in the fall. When sap rises the following spring, it carries the glyphosate along with it, causing various symptoms: witches brooms, cupping, stunted growth, chlorosis, and bark splitting. The injury can continue for a number of years after the misapplication.

Close-up of undersized foliage and buds that failed to open. Photo: S. Feather, Penn State

Dr. Hannah Mathers, an independent nursery crop/landscape consultant with Mathers Environmental Services, LLC, conducted research on bark splitting of nursery and landscape trees during her time at The Ohio State University. She found that drift from late-season glyphosate applications was absorbed into young trees, damaging the bark structure and reducing their winter hardiness. This resulted in bark splitting that can open these trees to various pathogens. Mathers also found that formulations of glyphosate that contain surfactants (products that increase its absorption into target weeds) increase the likelihood of damage.

Bark split that runs from the ground to the first scaffold of branches. This side of the tree never gets direct sun because of the wall behind it. Photo: S. Feather, Penn State

It is important to hand weed anything in close proximity to tree trunks and surface roots - or any other desirable plants - to avoid glyphosate damage. If you must spray near desirable plants, use a shield on the spray wand to minimize off-target damage. These can be purchased or made from a two-liter soda bottle. Another option is to use a wick to wipe glyphosate directly onto target weeds.

Never use glyphosate to remove suckers growing from the rootstocks of grafted trees. They are directly connected to the tree's vascular system, and such applications will damage the tree or possibly kill it. The best way to deal with suckers is to prune them off during the dormant season or after new growth has hardened off, then apply a product that contains naphthaleneacetic acid (Tre-Hold Sprout Inhibitor A-112, Sucker Stopper RTU, Sucker Punch RTU and others).

Once trees have been damaged by glyphosate, the best course of action is to protect them from further stress. Provide irrigation during hot, dry weather, and control any insect or disease problems. Fertilization is not the best course of action because pushing growth might add to the stress. Wait until the tree shows signs of recovery and then fertilize based on soil or tissue test results.

 

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Herbicide Damage to Trees and Shrubs​

Updated: June 6, 2023

Damage to American sycamore caused by 2,4-D herbicide. Photo: Theodor D. Leininger, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Herbicides are products designed to kill undesirable plants but sometimes misapplied herbicides or drift (movement of an herbicide on air currents) can cause injury to desirable landscape plants.

New growth is especially sensitive to herbicide injury.

Symptoms of some commonly misapplied herbicides​

• Symptoms of herbicide injury can include discolored or distorted leaves and can easily be confused with some weather-related injury or symptoms of improper care, as well as insect, mite, and disease problems.
• The amount of damage depends on the overall health of the plant, the kind and amount of herbicide absorbed, and the plant conditions after the exposure.
• 2,4-D and MCPP (found in many lawn herbicides) - Twisted and deformed shoots, leaves, and petioles (stalk that connects leaves to plant stems).
• Dicamba (lawn herbicide) - Dwarfed, distorted, and/ or discolored foliage.
• Glyphosate (non-selective herbicide) - Plants stop growing, remain green for several days, may develop yellow leaves, then turn to a uniform brown. Plants treated in the fall may not show symptoms until the following spring. Leaves on new growth may develop abnormally, with a stunted, narrow, or closely packed appearance, called witches-brooming.
• Trifluralin (preemergent herbicide for planting beds) - Roots may be swollen or club-shaped, roots may appear shortened with fewer secondary roots present.
• Some herbicides are more readily absorbed through plant roots while others are only absorbed through leaf and stem tissue. **Tissue and soil analysis for herbicide residues is often not available, impractical, or very costly.** ( This is a false claim! Your state Department of Agriculture inspector will test FOR FREE.)

Management​

• Damage can range from severe and possible plant death to the plant outgrowing the damage and recovering.
• If it is known that the plant was sprayed by an herbicide, an immediate hosing of the foliage with water can reduce the damage. But, if the herbicide was absorbed by the plant it cannot be rinsed off.
• Deeply water damaged trees and shrubs if needed.
• Wait to see if the plant outgrows the damage. Damaged branches and stems can be pruned out but in some cases, the plant will have to be replaced.

 

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Herbicide Damage in Trees

• March 18, 2020
• Posted by: Beau Brodbeck

Herbicide damage in landscape trees seems to be a growing problem. During the spring and summer over the last few years, many calls have come in from homeowners about herbicide-damaged trees. In most cases, injuries occur as a result of misapplied herbicides in both landscape beds and lawns.

Herbicides are useful products designed to control undesirable plants in landscapes. However, care must be taken before using these products to avoid damage to unintended plants. In a matter of minutes an uninformed gardener can erase trees that have taken decades or centuries to grow, forever altering their landscapes.

Symptoms​

While herbicide damage can be difficult to identify in trees, the most common symptoms are twisted, deformed, discolored, and cupped leaves. Defoliation of the entire tree or select branches is also common. Re-sprouting leaves will often be tiny, exhibit a chlorotic, yellowish color and be tightly clustered. The exact symptoms will depend on the type of herbicide used. Below are some important lessons for homeowners to follow when using herbicides around trees.

There is No Antidote for Herbicide Damage​

Once a herbicide have been absorbed, options become limited. It then becomes a waiting game to see how the tree will react and whether it will survive. Depending on the herbicide and the dose applied, this waiting period can range from a few weeks to several years. If an herbicide misapplication is suspected, water the tree regularly to flush the soil and help the tree grow past the herbicide damage.

If the herbicide misapplication is recent, consider using activated charcoal. Activated charcoal can be incorporated into the soil to help absorb and chemically bind organic herbicides. Please note these products are not guaranteed and have variable success. Herbicide injury can lead to other problems (pests, diseases, etc. ) and can take trees years to fully recover from.

Read Product Labels Carefully​

Herbicide labels are there for a reason. They not only outline where and how to use the product, but also provide application rates and a list of safety considerations. In most cases they also warn about possible damage if used around trees. Be sure to read the entire label as some warnings for tree damage are placed near the end.

Use only the specified rates as over application of many products could cause damage. Note that some products have small quantities of soil active herbicides and can damage trees at higher rates. If the label is lost, the website: www.cdms.net can be used to search most available products.

Understand the Difference Between Foliar and Soil Active​

Knowing the activity, or how plants absorb herbicides, is important to avoid damaging trees. Herbicides are absorbed in two primary ways. First, is foliar, meaning the herbicide must be sprayed onto the foliage or plant. Second, is soil active herbicides, which are absorbed by roots.

Using soil active herbicides is where most people get into trouble. These herbicides are either applied as a liquid or granules and are absorbed by roots. This means this product will affect any roots growing under the sprayed area. An application to kill weeds in grass can also result in trees absorbing the herbicide. Note that some herbicides are both foliar and soil active.

Tree Roots are Far Reaching​

While many products that are soil active recommend staying outside the tree’s drip–line, or the farthest-reaching branches, it might be more prudent going twice the drip–line. Roots can extend two to three times a tree’s drip–line. To ensure large high value trees are not damaged, it might be best to error on the side of caution.

Only Spray the Target Plants​

While this may seem obvious, there are a few common mistakes made that result in non-target plants being sprayed. First, beware of spraying on windy days. Wind can cause herbicides to drift onto non-target plants, especially if droplet sizes are small. Second, beware of spraying the trunk or exposed roots of trees. The bark and roots, especially thin barked tree species, are able to absorb herbicides. Third, beware that herbicides can volatilize. Some herbicides have a tendency to go from liquid to gas after application on hot summer days. Volatilized herbicides can rise and cause damage to tree canopies. For these chemicals, such as 2-4D, do not spray during hot days over 85 degrees.

“Weed and Feeds” Contain Herbicides That Can Harm Trees​

The term weed in lawn care “weed and feed” products contain various types of herbicides to control a variety of unwanted weeds. Additionally, post-emergent landscape herbicides used to control broadleaf species in grasses should also be used with care around trees. Unfortunately, many of these products are soil active and can be damaging to trees when misapplied.

Common herbicides to control weeds in lawns that have the potential to damage trees include:

• atrazine
• 2-4D
• dicamba
• MCPP
• imazaquin
• metsulfuron

Read all labels carefully as warnings for using these products around trees can be buried deep within the document. Also, pay attention to soil type, soil PH, tree species, and outside temperatures as these can influence the interaction between herbicides and trees. Damage from these products may be more subtle when misapplied. If in doubt, consider alternative products.

Beware of Products with Additional Soil-Active Herbicides​

In recent years, commonly used landscape herbicides have added additional herbicide products that should be used cautiously, if at all around trees. Glyphosate products with the words max control or extended control have the active ingredients Imazapic and Diquat, both of which are soil active. For the unsuspecting consumer, these products often spell trouble as many only assume the glyphosate rate has increased.

Read the labels of these products carefully and use caution, as Imazapic at certain rates can be very damaging to trees. The glyphosate extended control product allows for use under trees at certain rates. However, if the rate is exceeded or soil condition are not favorable (sandy, high PH) it could lead to damage.

Use Other Means to Improve Lawn Health​

The management of landscape grasses and trees are often at odds. Trees produce dense shade, which increases weed problems. Furthermore, the herbicides that control weeds in grasses can be damaging to trees. Consider replacing struggling lawns with mulched beds and shade tolerant landscape plants. The mulch will improve the health of the trees. In areas where grass is desired, pruning can thin tree canopies to improve light penetration.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

DIAGNOSING HERBICIDEINJURY ON TREES ANDLANDSCAPE PLANTS

"Because herbicides are designed to kill plants, damage to non-target plants is not an uncommon occurrence (Photos 2, 3 & Inset, & 4). Herbicides can affect non-target plants for a variety of reasons. Spray drift, volatility (Photo 5), persistence (long residual),movement or translocation in water (Photo 3),movement on tools or equipment (Photo 6),contaminated soil (Photo 7), and other media such as mulch. Obviously, misapplication and/or applicators’ failure to follow label directions or understand the herbicides attributes are rather common contributors to herbicide toxicity to trees or other desirable plants(Photo 8 & Inset). Occasional mistakes also occur with herbicide labeling or imprecise directions from manufacturers/marketers/suppliers (Photos 9, 10 & 11).I sometimes suspect that vague labeling is done for marketing purposes.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Finally got a working camera.
Yard inspection photos taken today.
As you can see, identical visible signs of damage compared to last year and also two years ago when they were first contaminated.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

 

[scuzzy]

Geoengineering is causing lots of damage to soil and trees in lots of areas. Thank you Bill Gates & DARPA. Plenty of evidence so before you call me a tin foil hat do some reading. Actually call me whatever you want as I've been called nuts for a lot a years when I would point out Chemtrails. But now it's a proven fact. Your .gov hates you.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Geoengineering is causing lots of damage to soil and trees in lots of areas. Thank you Bill Gates & DARPA. Plenty of evidence so before you call me a tin foil hat do some reading. Actually call me whatever you want as I've been called nuts for a lot a years when I would point out Chemtrails. But now it's a proven fact. Your .gov hates you.

Holy crap.
I'll be starting anew thread on this.
@scuzzy Here it is

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Yard inspect today...
The blooms on the buckeyes are fading to brown and falling off, but I don't see any fruit/nuts forming.
These are chlorotic deformed leaves being thrown by the Paulownia tree today. Same as last year and the year before.
06/08/22


05/07/24


But, I suppose this is all in my imagination and isn't really happening.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Today, for the first time, I was able to get a close up and personal look at the crown of the 200+ year old oak tree at the back of my property.
No doubt, whatsoever, herbicide poisoning was killing this tree.



The storm just ended it's suffering.

 

[TNTreeHugger]

 

[TNTreeHugger]

I measured the remaining standing portion of the oak trunk, not counting the part that fell, it's 14 FEET circumference. I estimate the height of the standing portion to be 75'-80'

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Here's what the buckeye leaves that fell yesterday are doing today

 

[TNTreeHugger]

Those sob's are spraying again today, in the corn field SW of the field adjoining my property.
Took a casual ride up to the cemetery to look for storm damage and saw them spraying. Tractor stopped when he saw me, he was up to the cemetery fence and I was on the other side. Saw him get on the phone.
Ran home to get camera.

When I got back a guy in a truck was giving him a bag of something (looked like lunch - eating lunch in a tractor spraying herbicide in the middle of a toxic cornfield. ) and he got back in the tractor. The guys in the truck was the farmer I know and the guy he hired to spray for him. I was as nice as I could be under the circumstances and asked him to stop because it was so windy, he said, "it's going to rain." I said it's not going to rain for two days. I explained where I live and why that particular field is a problem for me. Basically he didn't give a ****.
They said he's spraying Round-Up and Atrazine.
I pointed to my face and said, "Remember this face. And if you don't want to hear my complaining voice again, please be extra careful to make sure none of these chemicals get to my property."
He smiled and said he had work to do and drove off.

I just checked the weather and wind is below 10mph. Thank goodness. High temp and high humidity though.
I got pictures and a video.


Yum yum. Lunch in the middle of a toxic cornfield.
And I KNOW it says on the label to not eat, drink, or smoke while using the chemical and to thoroughly wash after use. Definitely a Gump moment here.


This is how healthy and green the yard looks today. Praying it stays that way.