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Paint on plants

Morning

I wondered if anyone has any ideas on this please.

I had a handyman visit to paint my boundary fence and I’ve noticed splashes of paint everywhere including on all my plants. Really upset. It’s water soluble but it doesn’t easily come off. Should I just leave it or try and cut off the leaves with worst paint on? It’s on various shrubs and Lupins etc

thanks very much

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’d leave it and not worry. At this time of year plants are growing so fast the new leaves will soon hide the old ones. If some look particularly garish you could snip them off but dont denude the plant. 

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





  • Sam80Sam80 Posts: 40
    Thank you dovefromabove. I’m not worried about the look so much as any toxicity or harm it might cause. I don’t have the tin to see if it was harmful to plants 
  • Sam80Sam80 Posts: 40
    Impatientgardener - you've no idea. He made so much mess! 

    Thanks very much. Good to know it didn't harm your plants  :)
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    My neighbour painted the trellis fence between us and splashed paint all over my plants. They were fine afterwards although I cut most of the affected leaves off my veg. Give them a few good waterings where you soak the leaves and it might help.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    I painted our fence a few weeks ago and the plants got a lot of splashes of paint on them. They really didn’t mind, you can hardly see anything anymore. 
    Surrey
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    If the paint is "water-soluble" it probably means water-dilutable.  It will dry to a water-resistant film.  I doubt whether any tin will say "harmful to plants".  If it does it is to protect their interests.  Like "keep away from children".

    Handymen are often not that handy.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Bédé this is a four year old thread which has been reactivated by a Spammer.  

    I suspect the fence will soon need repainting.  😉 



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





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