Zone 9b, CA
I don't get snow where I live, so I left a lot of my tubers in the ground over winter. I also planted some new plants. My established plans have been blooming for a couple months now, and my new plants were doing so great. Key word: WERE.
Why did I have to go and spray weeds the day before a huge storm came through? The storm swooped in with a quickness out of nowhere 😩. Now look at them! I'm told that this is herbicide drift damage. Do we think there's any hope for them? Or are they goners?
I'M SO SAD!!
Edit: to add, I personally don't think this is herbicide damage, but rather, flood damage (I was going off the general consensus that everyone else thinks that this is herbicide damage 🤷🏽♀️). This specific flower bed sat in 2-4" of water for 3 days. The herbicide in question is commercial grade (we own a landscaping company) and only kills what it comes in contact with, nothing under the ground. I've used it for several years now, in the same way, in the same locations, and the only plants that have ever been damaged are these …. and it just happens to be right after 3 days of flooding. It's very curious indeed. Thank you for all of the info! Definitely open to suggestions!
by nooneswatching2
13 Comments
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What herbicide are you using? I say this as respectfully as possible but that shit gets into your soil and will be there for a WHILE + spread to adjacent areas. Big storms or not. I stopped using it a decade ago. It’s terrible for our water supply and our natural pollinators etc.
I put down mulch to cover and/or just wait for the weeds to get bigger and pull them as I check on my dahlias.
I’m so sorry about your plants 😔. I am also in zone 9b NorCal, and these rains came in so hard that I’m actually worried about the tubers I planted that haven’t sprouted yet. Worried about them rotting.
I hope your plants survive.
I’m not an expert and I could be wrong, but I spray a lot of weeds and based on the way it looks I don’t think this is related to the weed killer. Did your temps drop quite a bit during the storm? Was there very heavy or prolonged rain? My bet would be on either a bit of cold shock or over watering. If so, I would imagine it would start to perk up after a few warm sunny days.
You sprayed plant poison and it poisoned your plant. I’d stay clear or herbicides unless you are treating invasive plants.
I’m in a similar boat but with my sunflowers. Squirrels were eating them all so I sprayed with peppermint oil to try and discourage them but I didn’t dilute nearly enough. Basically nuked them from orbit.
I don’t have much feedback for your problem beyond just saying I can relate. It’s painful but the only way forward is to keep going. I hope yours pull through!
That sucks but just don’t spray weeds. Many other ways. Hand remove, mulch.
This looks like micronutrient deficiencies. It’s usually iron.
Optimist here, just my opinion no proof to support only what I’ve seen in my experience with dahlias.
I would imagine that digging, cutting back roots for new growth and replanting in new soil could save your plant and tubers.
I’d also suggest aloe & algae products to heal. And mychrorisal (misspelled) products for healthy new root growth.
Happy to suggest products.
You absolutely can use herbicides in a safe way, including the harsher ones. Its kind of an art you get better at. Having the knowledge of using them on invasive plants is a good skill to maintain.
I would keep an eye on the plants, some herbicide-drift can kill a plant but it totally depends on the dosage exposure. Most of the time it will harm new growth until the herbicide half life has passed. If the plant lives through, then it will be fine.
I’m a master gardener. Spraying weeds should be an absolute last resort. Really, no one should be doing it. It’s bad for you. It’s bad for the bees. It’s bad for the water supply. It really really bad if you ever grow something there that you’re going to eat. It stays in the soil for a long time. Just pull the weeds up with your hands. I have a couple of acres, and have never even considered using spray. I thought most people had leaned into organic gardening once we all found out how bad that shit it.
They will still flower!! My inconsiderate ex decided to spray paint right near my dahlias and a bunch of the wind blew paint on them. The leaves were kinda wonky but they still made beautiful flowers
Advice is all over the board on this. My two cents is this:
I agree with you that this is NOT herbicide damage. I just remember taking weed science, we learned all of the herbicide modes of actions and their effect on plant growth, and your pictures don’t match any of it.
Flooding, however, could cause this. When the soil is saturated with water like it was, the soil loses all of its oxygen, and it severely impacts the roots ability to uptake nutrients. Also, the nutrient levels in the soil are diluted by all of the extra water. When the plant doesn’t get the nutrients it needs, you see growth that isn’t dark green. Aka your pictures.
I think this is temporary and your plants will rebound, so long as the soil dries out to normal levels. Your plants seem very healthy otherwise. If the yellowing spreads to older leaves, or tissue starts to die, then I’d be concerned about herbicide damage