Herbicide damage > Identify, Control & Disease Prevention Tips

Herbicide damage

Herbicides are pesticides specifically designed for weed control. Pesticide damage is hard to diagnose since it requires a laboratory test for validation, and each herbicide requires a specific test. Despite this, some symptoms can indicate the presence of the herbicide. Still, they tend to be similar to other diseases, so these other options must be ruled out before assuming herbicide damage.

Extreme weather damage, salt damage, inadequate use of fertilizers, and nutrient deficiencies are some of the issues that can show a resemblance to herbicide damage. Another difficulty with assessing this problem is that herbicide symptoms may take just a couple of days to weeks to become noticeable. Climate factors are also known to alter herbicide effects by enhancing or reducing its intensity slightly. Some common types of herbicides are broadleaf, dicamba, and soil sterilant, which will all have different effects on different plants.

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Signs of damage

There are different patterns of damage according to different herbicides but also according to the affected plants:

Leaf damage. Leaves can display various signs, from curling and cupped leaves to chlorosis that makes leaves discolored and dead spots. Leaves can also have their texture altered and develop into abnormal shapes.
Flattened stems.
Corkscrew and twisting stems.
Necrosis.
Stunted growth.

How to prevent

Reducing other stress factors will make the plant less susceptible to a higher degree of damage and increase the chances of recovery. This, paired with optimal growing conditions and care, will contribute to plant resistance and overall vigor. These practices include watering during droughts, adequate fertilization, and controlling other pathogens and diseases.

If you’re using herbicides for weed control, always follow the instructions, and leave some safety distance between the plants that shouldn’t be exposed, such as ornamental or crops. Avoid applying it on windy days, hot days, or hot hours of the day, since temperature increases chemical toxicity.

Heal

The degree of damage will determine the likelihood of recovery. It also depends on the herbicide used since soil sterilants are the hardest for plants to recover from. The good news is if the plant doesn’t lose its vigor and has new growth, it is more likely to recover.

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