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Sad lilac #869900
Asked May 24, 2024, 10:02 AM EDT
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi,
Thanks for your question and for including a picture.
The curled leaves in an environment with sufficient water make me wonder if the lilac was exposed to an herbicide such as 2,4-D, which is often part of "weed and seed" turf formulations, for example. Lilacs are especially sensitive to herbicide injury, which can occur through herbicide drift or volatilization, leaching, or run-off, and the damage may not become noticeable until the growth season after the injury.
I would watch to see if the lilac makes a recovery as the summer progresses. If you ultimately need to remove the lilac, keep in mind that lilacs thrive in full sun (min 6 hours of sun/day), so you may want to consider a different type of replacement plant for this area that is part shade.
Best wishes to you as you continue getting to know your new garden space.