Glyphosate is absorbed by green plant tissue (bark, leaves) and then moves within the plant. Branches or canes exposed early in the year usually stop growing and eventually die. When branches are exposed later in the season, absorbed glyphosate can move throughout the plant.

Severe injury or plant death may occur the next spring. Branches exposed the previous year produce stunted growth with small, narrow, chlorotic leaves. Symptoms may persist for 1 to 3 years.