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Herbicide Drift
You may be the victim of pesticide drift from 2,4-D, a very common herbicide used to control broad-leaved lawn weeds. Droplets of 2,4-D can drift when applied on breezy days. This herbicide is also very volatile, and at temperatures above 80 degrees F, it may evaporate into a gas cloud that drifts easily. Pesticide injury from 2,4-D causes leaves to curl into cup or strap shapes, stems to twist and bend or to elongate abnormally, and flowers and fruit to become distorted (see the previous question, "Defaced Tomatoes"). Plants exposed to sublethal doses of 2,4-D recover, in time, though the affected foliage and flowers will not return to normal.
Before you approach your neighbors, verify that your plants are exhibiting symptoms of pesticide injury, recommends Kassim Al-Khatib, Ph.D., professor of weed science at Kansas State University.
"Sometimes herbicide symptoms look similar to symptoms caused by environmental stresses," says Al-Khatib. Schedule an appointment with your local extension agent to evaluate your plants. Bring several samples of your injured plants (they must be fresh, so cut them that day) along with photos of the plants.
If the extension agent determines that the plants are indeed suffering from herbicide injury, ask for some handouts on proper herbicide application techniques. You should also gather information on organic lawn care. A few great references include The Chemical Free Lawn, by Warren Schultz (Rodale, 1996), and the organic-lawn-care articles in the Archives at OrganicGardening.com. Once you have these materials assembled, you can approach your neighbors armed with educational information instead of angry words.
Open the conversation by explaining to your neighbors that they unintentionally damaged your plants when they sprayed their lawn, and that you have had this verified by the county extension office. Then offer to help educate your neighbors about organic lawn maintenance. People often use herbicides because they aren't aware of the benefits of organic yard care. Point out that you have a nice yard that is maintained organically, and give them the educational materials on organic gardening.
If your neighbors are resistant to trying organic methods, ask that they take steps to minimize herbicide drift in the future. A few simple techniques include using a granular product or spraying in the early morning when the air is calm and cool. It's also important to keep the spray nozzle close to the ground and to spray with lower pressure, which creates heavier droplets that are less prone to drift onto your innocent, organic plants.
