Q.Maple tree
I think I accidentally sprayed grass killer on my maple tree. It’s dead. Will it come back in the spring?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
You can try to lessen damage by flooding the soil and tree with water to remove any chemical residue, but unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure if the tree will survive. If it's an older tree, chances will be better but younger trees may not be established enough to withstand the chemical contact.
If a plant is dead, it's dead. Plants don't come back from the dead. However, plants can lose all their leaves and still not be dead. If the twigs are pliable when you bend them, the tree's not dead. If the twigs snap apart and are all brown inside, those twigs are dead. Still, the whole plant may not be dead. Unless your maple was a very small sapling, there's probably a good chance that it will come back in the spring. Good luck.
