I just applied Ortho Weed-B-Gone to some parts of my lawn to tackle the problem with mock strawberries and winter creeper. My goal is to eventually encourage native strawberries to thrive as ground cover in those spots. Would you feel safe eating those strawberries at any point, and if so, how long should I wait? I know I probably won't get any berries for a couple of years.
Also, I'm concerned because I plan to mulch my vegetable garden with last fall's leaves. I didn't spray within 10 feet of those leaves, but I understand some herbicide might still transfer onto them. Should I avoid using those leaves, or would waiting a few days or weeks make it okay?
3 Answers
Typically, the label provides some guidance, but since Weed-B-Gone isn't labeled for use on edible crops, information may be lacking. Generally, waiting around a year before planting edibles should be a safe bet for the chemicals to fully break down.
For the leaves, if they aren’t from the same application, I'd go ahead and incorporate them into your garden soil now. Any residues should have degraded over the winter. Just food for thought, but consider exploring non-chemical weed management techniques moving forward!
I agree! Looking for alternatives can be really beneficial for both your plants and the environment.
Check the product label for breakdown information. If it doesn’t mention how long you should wait before it's safe for growing edible plants, try googling the weedkiller's active ingredients to find the breakdown rates. They’re usually well-researched, and you should aim for those specific timeframes before consuming any potentially affected plants.
I consume store-bought food treated with herbicides too, as long as I follow application guidelines correctly at home. You have better control over usage, so you should be fine.
Honestly, I would just avoid it altogether. But I get that sometimes you might feel pressured to use chemicals. Just know that there are often safer methods to manage weeds without resorting to herbicides.
Could you elaborate on the methods you recommend? I'm looking for some natural alternatives.
Did you use the same herbicide on those leaves? Just clarifying since it seems like the application is pretty recent.