Is Large Shrub Dead?

Question

We trenched our beds 10 days ago and on the inside edge of the trench, we applied a light spraying of Round-up. Now the leaves on our shrub (either Cleyera or Ligustrum) are turning brown. This shrub is at least 20 years old and very large. Please advise on what could possibly be happening and how to correct this problem.

Answer 1

Overspray from the trench may have gotten on the shrub. Spray the plant down thoroughly and repeatedly. This will help dilute the herbicide. Regardless, while the leaves will die back some, they should grow back. Large shrubs typically will not be killed by overspray.