Herbicide – Longevity in Soil

Q: Can vegetables be planted in an area that had brush killer sprayed one year ago and in an area that was sprayed two years ago? I do not know the type of spray.

A: In general, herbicidal chemicals for a lawn are degraded within the first six months after application.

Of course, soil sterilants like Green Light Com-Pleet and Ortho Triox can last for more than a year.

The chemical clopyralid is sometimes applied by lawn care companies and has a very long life in the soil.

Without knowing which chemical was applied it is hard to predict the results. As a practical matter, if weed seeds germinate in the area there is probably no harm in planting vegetables there.