What Should I Do If I Accidentally Sprayed RoundUp on My Hydrangea?
RoundUp is a systemic herbicide made from a glyphosate compound that absorbs quickly into plants through their leaves. It becomes inactive when it is sprayed onto the ground. RoundUp is non-selective and is effective on a broad spectrum of plants, including hydrangeas. It is a water-soluble solution and is delivered by spraying the mixture onto the leaves of the plants to be controlled. It travels through the leaves and into the roots, turning the foliage brown, and controlling the plant in this way. Accidental application of RoundUp can kill hydrangeas, but there are some steps you can take to save your plant.
Cease spraying of other plants immediately if you suspect that RoundUp has been sprayed on or drifted onto your hydrangea leaves.
- RoundUp is a systemic herbicide made from a glyphosate compound that absorbs quickly into plants through their leaves.
- Accidental application of RoundUp can kill hydrangeas, but there are some steps you can take to save your plant.
Fill a clean spray bottle with fresh water.
Saturate hydrangea leaves that you believe have been sprayed. Literally spray them with so much water that it runs off the leaves as if they were being rained on. Time is of the essence here. RoundUp cannot be removed after 30 minutes, so the sooner you spray the hydrangea with fresh water, the better the chance that it will survive. After a hydrangea has been sprayed with RoundUp, however, there is no guarantee of survival no matter how much fresh water is sprayed onto the leaves.
Accidentally Sprayed Roundup On My Hydrangea?
When the hydrangea is growing actively, especially in the spring and summer, it's at the greatest danger from the glyphosate in the Roundup. New leaves may be yellowed or stunted, and older leaves may develop brown spots. In general, if you were able to soak the shrub with water and rinse off the Roundup within 30 minutes of exposure, your hydrangea is likely to survive. Because there's no leaves on the branches to absorb the glyphosate, the Roundup shouldn't affect the hydrangea. The cambium is the thin layer between the woody stem and bark, which carries water and nutrients throughout the shrub. Wait a few minutes for the herbicide to dry before removing the coffee can.
- Fill a clean spray bottle with fresh water.
- Because there's no leaves on the branches to absorb the glyphosate, the Roundup shouldn't affect the hydrangea.
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Writer Bio
Dale Yalanovsky has been writing professionally since 1978. He has been published in "Woman's Day," "New Home Journal" and on many do-it-yourself websites. He specializes in do-it-yourself projects, household and auto maintenance and property management. Yalanovsky also writes a bimonthly column that provides home improvement advice.
