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Leaves on some of my trees and shrubs look twisted and mottled. What's up?
Twisted, distorted growth, twisting or cupping leaves, bleaching of the leaves, or veins that are white or yellow can be the result of herbicide damage. Weed and feed products are the biggest culprits. People tend to use too much (none would be best!). Then along comes a good spring rain that washes it into the root systems of our trees and shrubs.
Sometimes the damage is due to glyphosate (RoundUp and similar products). If it gets on the shoots from a tree, it causes a very small leaf that looks ragged and ratty.
Once a plant's damaged, there's not much you can do. It does take a lot of damage to kill a plant, and 99% of the time, you won't lose you tree or shrub, but it will look bad for a while. It's a surefire sign that these products are being misapplied.
If you simply must use herbicides, use them sparingly and very carefully. It doesn't make sense to kill a short-term weed and harm or lose your long-term plants as a result.
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