Plant CareWhy Your Plants Might Be Damaged (And It’s Not the Sun)
Caleb Schlegel
Head of Operations · April 4, 2026
Sometimes plants suddenly look burned, twisted, or stunted—and it’s not always heat or watering. One common but overlooked cause: herbicide exposure.
What Herbicide Damage Looks Like
- ✓ Twisted or distorted growth
- ✓ Bleached or scorched leaves
- ✓ Stunted plants
It often looks like disease or heat stress—but isn’t.
How It Happens
Even if you didn’t spray anything:
- ✓ Herbicides can drift from nearby areas
- ✓ Lawn treatments can move into beds
- ✓ Residue can linger in soil or compost
Why Annuals Are Sensitive
Annuals grow quickly and actively, which makes them more responsive and more vulnerable to chemical exposure.
Hoosier Tip
If plants suddenly look distorted across multiple varieties at the same time, it’s probably not watering—it could be chemical exposure.
More on plant care, every Friday
Three growing guides like this one and a short note from the greenhouse, free, once a week. Written for Indiana gardens.
Reference: Purdue University Extension — Indiana gardening resources
