Herbicides Harming Trees

In 2011, professional turfgrass managers from Iowa to New Jersey experienced a rare event: damage to certain tree species (primarily Norway spruce and white pine) following their spring applications of the Imprelis herbicide. Imprelis, belonging to a new class of herbicides called pyrimidine carboxylic acids, is absorbed through foliage and roots of target weeds. Herbicides in this class are known to have low mammalian toxicity, herbicidal activity at low rates, and slow decomposition rates in organic residue and manure where oxygen is limited (Hipkins, 2009).

Seeger Weiss is pursuing a suit that asserts the newly approved and marketed weed killer is killing trees, shrubs and ornamental plants across the country. The weed killer received conditional approval from the EPA and has been marketed byDuPont as a ”low environmental impact” herbicide sold to professionals only for use on lawns, golf courses, sod farms, schools, parks and athletic fields.

Penn State Offers Herbicide Damage Advice


The Penn State agriculture extension team has been involved in helping those landscapers who have been affected by the herbicide damage and offer the following tips:
  • Do not fertilize damaged trees for at least one growing season (excess growth can compound injury).
  • If drought begins to set in from herbicide damage, extra watering may alleviate stress on trees that received slight to moderate damage.
  • Place a soaker hose on the soil near the trunk of injured Norway spruce trees that have low hanging branches. This will allow slow irrigation of the soil directly under the tree and reduce the risk of bringing additional harm to the tree.
  • Don’t prune for up to a year to fully assess the extent of the herbicide damage and allow for recovery.

Impact of Herbicides


The impact of herbicides can extend beyond their target organisms as the case of the Imprelis herbicide shows. Although regulatory procedures include reviews on the health and environmental effects of herbicides, they can still cause harm. Some have higher levels of toxicity to a variety of organisms while others have a higher potential to escape from the application site by volatilization (entering the air), run-off or leaching.

Seeger Weiss LLP is looking into a class action associated with the damage and/or death of trees by Imprelis herbicide. If you or someone you know has purchased Imprelis herbicide and experienced tree damage, please contact us.

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