Weedol Max and Thuja

[Gary Prentice]

I went to quote on a Thuja Hedge reduction yesterday to discover it's in poorish health.

 

The symptoms are browning and death of the leading and side shoots of every shoot. This is more pronounced at lower levels but visible throughout each tree.

 

The gardens sheltered from cold winds, well away from road salt spray, no effusions on the branches. No cultivation/grade changes in the surrounding soil. The husband was absent but his wife searched the shed and the only chemical was Weedol Max -active ingredient being Pelargonic acid.

 

The symptoms are fairly recent, they think over the winter.

 

Clutching at straws to identify a cause for the decline, so has anyone any experience/knowledge/information of adverse affects of this herbicide around conifers. It was a small squeeze handle container (400-500cl?) so I don't think its been over applied.

 

It's not a big hedge, only four trees over 6m, but the symptoms are identical on each. No FFB's present or noted by client.

 

Currently, I've recommended not to reduce the hedge, but to monitor the problem, as I fear that this is going to continue and kill it.