Manage Compost and Soil Contaminated With Broadleaf Herbicides

By Lucy Bradley
 

Check out this new NC State Publication

Manage Compost and Soil Contaminated with Broadleaf Herbicides in Residential, School, and Community Gardens

Persistent broadleaf herbicides are a group of chemicals used to kill weeds and includes both pre-emergent herbicides, applied to the soil to interrupt the germination process, and selective post-emergent herbicides applied directly to the plant to kill broadleaf weeds while not damaging grass. Though they do not kill grass, they can be taken up by grass, consumed by horses or cows, passed through the digestive tract, expelled as manure, and still remain active after composting. Incorporating contaminated compost or grass clippings into your garden can result in damage to broadleaf plants (including many vegetables).

It was created in partnership with the Duke Superfund Research Center