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Aminopyralid poisoning with compost from Home Depot #797881

Asked June 26, 2022, 9:37 AM EDT

I grow tomato’s and potatoes in buckets and bags with a commercial peat product called ProMix. This year I mixed the ProMix with some composted manure from Home Depot. I have worked hard at solving the problems I have had with my plant, but know believe the compost was contaminated. It is consistent with my observations. I hope that someone could warn other gardeners.

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.
I am sorry to see what has happened to your plants. 
Unfortunately, this is not enough information for me to act on.  Home Depot sells many kinds of manure from several different manufacturers.
A complaint about an improper labeling of a garden product should go to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. 
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/about-mpca/submit-complaint
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied June 26, 2022, 10:30 AM EDT
Steve. Thank you for your timely reply.  I am not certain that Home Depot is guilty of anything wrong. I just bought composted manure without reading any labels.  Poor judgement on my part. More importantly, I was not aware herbicide contamination
that was persistent enough to be distributed through commercial channels. I was also hopeful that there maybe other similar reports to help confirm my analysis.
Fortunately, the soil is contained and has not contaminated the remainder of the garden.
Thank You. Kimball


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On Jun 26, 2022, at 9:30 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2022, 11:39 AM EDT
Dear Kimball, 
This is an interesting topic. 
Compost may be contaminated with herbicide with adverse effects
https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9307/html#:~:text=Herbicide%20damage%20from%20contaminated%20compost,the%20ends%20of%20the%20shoots.

https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2021/02/24/how-to-identify-and-treat-herbicide-contamination-of-commercial-soil-compost-and-manure/
I will alert the other Master Gardeners on this.
Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions.  The University' garden soil tests are excellent.  https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert.  https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied June 26, 2022, 12:45 PM EDT
Thanks for you help, Steve.
Kimball

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 26, 2022, at 11:45 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:


The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2022, 1:33 PM EDT

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