{"id":2956,"date":"2019-09-18T00:08:04","date_gmt":"2019-09-18T07:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/pal-question-459\/"},"modified":"2023-08-09T09:51:50","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T16:51:50","slug":"weed-and-feed-products-and-edible-gardens","status":"publish","type":"pal","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/pal\/weed-and-feed-products-and-edible-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"weed-and-feed products and edible gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"

How soon I can plant my edibles after I’ve used weed and<\/strong>
\nfeed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do you know which weed and feed product was used? That would help in
\ndetermining the chemical’s half life (persistence) in the soil. Regardless of which chemical was used, my
\nrecommendation would be not to plant any edibles in a site which has been
\ntreated with weed and feed, but to find another location for your food
\nplants (such as containers made of safe materials, or raised beds with a
\nbarrier between the bed and the chemically treated area of the garden).<\/p>\n

Local garden writer Ann Lovejoy has discussed weed-and-feed products in
\nher column. Here<\/a> is a link.<\/p>\n

Here is what retired Washington State University Extension agent Mary
\nRobson had to say on this subject in one of her columns no longer available online:<\/p>\n

Just one note of caution-be careful with all chemicals. Many pesticides
\nordinarily used in gardens are not allowed on edibles. An example is Lawn
\nWeed and Feed which will harm any broadleaf plant whether lettuce or
\nmarigold or petunia. It’s probably safest to keep pesticides out of the
\ngarden if you plan to eat the produce.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Formerly available from the website of Washington Toxics Coalition:<\/p>\n

The Hazards of Weed and Feed<\/em><\/p>\n

“Weed and feed is a mixture of lawn fertilizer with weed killer, usually
\n2,4-D and related compounds. The problem with weed and feed is that it is
\ndesigned to be applied to the entire lawn regardless of whether or not
\nweeds are actually present. This encourages over use. For example, if 30%
\nof your lawn is covered in weeds, 70% of a weed and feed application will
\nbe wasted, since the herbicides have no residual action. Since many
\npeople do not realize that weed and feed is a pesticide, they may be less
\ninclined to read an follow label instructions. For example, did you know
\nthat it is illegal to apply weed and feed more than twice per year on the
\nsame site?<\/p>\n

“The herbicides in most weed and feed products are mobile in soils and are
\nwidely found as pollutants in local streams, according to the U.S.
\nGeological Survey. In addition, 2,4-D is neurotoxic and may be a
\ncarcinogen according to some studies.<\/p>\n

“Weed control should be practiced only as needed, not every time you
\nfertilize. Mechanical controls are preferable to protect health and the
\nenvironment. If chemical controls are used, spot treatment should be
\nutilized to minimize product use and resultant risks from direct exposure
\nand track-in to the home on shoes and feet.”<\/p>\n

Here are links to information on some common weed-and-feed type products
\nand their hazards:<\/p>\n

From the Pesticide Action Network North America<\/a><\/p>\n

From the Winter 2005 (updated April 2006) article in Journal of Pesticide Reform<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How soon I can plant my edibles after I’ve used weed and feed?   Do you know which weed and feed product was used? That would help in determining the chemical’s half life (persistence) in the soil. Regardless of which chemical was used, my recommendation would be not to plant any edibles in a site which has been treated with weed and feed, but to find another location for your food plants (such as containers made of safe materials, or…<\/p>\n

Continue reading weed-and-feed products and edible gardens<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","keyword":[87,513,52],"class_list":["post-2956","pal","type-pal","status-publish","hentry","keyword-pesticides","keyword-pesticides-and-the-environment","keyword-vegetable-gardening"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal\/2956"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/pal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"keyword","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/hortlib\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword?post=2956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}