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Possible tree damage?

brianthomasrichardsbrianthomasrichards Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi.
My dad (who isn't much of a gardener) decided to spray weed killer on what he thought were weeds on his lawn. However, I suspect the "weeds" are actually suckers growing from the roots of several old and well established trees that are at the end of the garden. He used Round Up along the borders of the lawn and a weed killer that only kills weeds on the lawn (and not the grass). Can someone please advise if any possible damage has been caused to the trees, as I know he would be heartbroken if he has.

Thank you in advance

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't know the answer, but I suspect the trees will be fine.
    I have a small (4ft) but quite old Mahonia in 'soil' that's baked hard as concrete. Weeds appear around it and under it. There's no chance of digging them out, so I use Roundup. Inevitably some overspray gets onto the Mahonia. I've only ever noticed the odd leaf gets marked and drops off, but the plant itself is fine.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • brianthomasrichardsbrianthomasrichards Posts: 2
    Thanks for the reply. Hopefully this will put his mind at ease. Fingers crossed that no damaged has been done, and he'll be cutting those suckers out in future! 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited May 2018
    Best way with suckers is to pull them off - if possible. Tug them toward the tree.
    Problem with cutting them off is you'll leave a spur and more suckers will grow from that.
    I know this isn't always possible though and sometimes you just have to keep pruning them off
    I'll keep my fingers crossed for your Dad's trees too!


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If they were only sprayed very recently (within the last few days or so) I'd cut them off/pull them out before much of the chemical has translocated back to the roots ... it might lessen the effect  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I think using regular Round Up shouldn't hurt the tree. There is a special strength tree Round Up that might have caused problems.
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