Knowledgebase

Sad lilac #869900

Asked May 24, 2024, 10:02 AM EDT

Hi there! I’m in my first spring/summer in my new home and am learning to care for the outdoor plants. There’s a darling little lilac bush that is having a tough time and I’m struggling to figure out why. Its leaves are curled and getting a bit crunchy. It’s in a part shade spot. The small trees/other lilac bushes around it appear happy and healthy. It sits near the top of an incline/isn’t sitting in water. I need to have a soil test completed, but it overall seems a bit sandy and water doesn’t sit. I don’t notice any visible pest damage to the leaves. And, we’ve had some good rains that haven’t perked it up. Is there any chance it’s overwatered somehow? I’m feeling pretty stumped, but I’m also very new to outdoor plants. I’ve included a “close up” of the leaves. Thank you so much for any thoughts you may have— I sure appreciate it!

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.

Ellen Tveit Replied May 24, 2024, 3:10 PM EDT

Loading ...