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We have occasional problems with horrid spiky nettles growing in our yard, and my spouse's usual treatment for them is a quick spray of Round-Up, which seems to eradicate them fairly well.
However, I've begun to wonder if that can also have a deleterious effect on shrubs and trees nearby. I just finished removing a mostly-dead lilac bush from the yard last weekend, and I know he treated a nettle plant under the bush last spring. However, I also noticed when I dug out the root mass that a large root from the still-living part of the bush had completely encircled the main root of the dead part, so the bush's demise could have been caused by a girdling problem as well.
In any case, I thought I'd put the question to the experts here: have you ever had a problem with Round-Up killing shrubs or trees? Thanks for any insights or comments you can share.
From what I understand about Roundup, it is a contact herbicide that does not affect other plants through the soil. It works best when sprayed on foliage. It has to be injected or painted full strength on trunks and stems to have much of an effect on healthy trees or shrubs.
Could it be that your spouse was using another type of herbicide? Or did he/she accidentally spray the lilac too?
Usually shrubs and trees require several strong treatments with Roundup to kill them completely.
Roundup is the herbicide of choice in young non bearing orange groves. At least it was when I worked around in them some years back. Roundup was designed for tender stemmed plants and not woody barked shrubs. I would have serious doubts as Roundup killing lilacs. Farmers use it to kill off weeds in no till plantings. It has no effect on the seed coming up that they plant after spraying.
Round up is a systemic that is absorbed by the green parts of plants, the leaves and stems. If your husband accidently got spray on the lilac, you would begin to see damage within 7 to 10 days. if you did not see this, it may still have been a contributing factor in the death of the plant, but the spray must have been in contact with the plant. Newer formulations of Round up also contain a contact herbicide the kills green while the glyphosate (active ingredient) is absorbed by the plant. I believe the newer formulation is called Round up Pro.
From what I understand about Roundup, it is a contact herbicide that does not affect other plants through the soil. It works best when sprayed on foliage. It has to be injected or painted full strength on trunks and stems to have much of an effect on healthy trees or shrubs.
Could it be that your spouse was using another type of herbicide? Or did he/she accidentally spray the lilac too?
Usually shrubs and trees require several strong treatments with Roundup to kill them completely.
Just retired from the state highway department and was the one who had the license to spray chemicals. Round-up will kill or damage any plant it touches. When cutting brush off the state right-of-way, we would paint the stump with full strength Roundup to kill it. If you're wanting something to kill certain weeds and other plants, you might want to check with a farm supply center. Tell them what you're wanting to spray for and they should be able to tell you the kind of chemical you need...and if you can buy it without a license. If you do, maybe you have a friend who is a farmer who may be able to get you some. http://osuextra.okstate.edu/pdfs/F-6704web.pdf Check out page 2.
Thanks, all, for your comments and insights! That helps a lot. Kygman, your experience with killing brush that way is interesting, and emphasizes the need for caution with herbicides. In general, I prefer not to use chemicals in lawn and garden care, but those nettles are just lethal to hands, even with leather gloves on, so I make an exception for them.
Roundup (glyphosate) is inactive in the soil, I use it around my young trees all the time to get rid of weeds. As others have said, just make sure the spray doesn't drift onto the foliage of desirable plants.
I just accidentally sprayed my Snow Ball Bush with Roundup and am wondering what I can do. It is at least 10 feet tall and quite big around. I immediately sprayed it down with water for several minutes. Is there any hope. The bush is 10 years old.
I just accidentally sprayed my Snow Ball Bush with Roundup and am wondering what I can do. It is at least 10 feet tall and quite big around. I immediately sprayed it down with water for several minutes. Is there any hope. The bush is 10 years old.
If you rinsed it off right away, it should be fine. You will know in about four days if it isn't.
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