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No growth garden! #878920

Asked July 26, 2024, 2:24 PM EDT

This growing season started the same as the last 30 years. Mid-April I sprayed some small patches of grass growing in my garden area with round up. The grass patches died in 2 weeks. The week before Memorial Day I sprinkled some preen for gardens in the garden area and roto-tilled it in about 5" deep. 1 week later I roto-till again and planted tomatoes, red pepper, yellow squash, zucchini, and some green bean plants, all from are local green house. As of today (7/26/24) my garden has not grown, the plants are no bigger than the day I planted them. I have no weeds, and no vegetables either. I did apply Preen monthly as per instructions and watered in either by sprinkler or rain. I did a soil test with MSU extension service (#G5Y63N) name Garden. If you could look over the results and possible give me some answers that would be great.

Bay County Michigan

Expert Response

Hal - I've reviewed your MSU soil test results and your soil looks very healthy.  Eliminating that as the issue, I am wondering if your vegetable plants are not growing because of the Preen that has been rototilled into the soil a week before planting.  

Preen contains an herbicide, trifluralin, which is absorbed by the plant roots.  Typically Preen won't affect vegetable plants because the root system (unlike that of a weed seedling) is already developed and also planted deeper into the soil than where the Preen is applied.  But, since you rototilled it into the soil, the vegetable plant roots may have taken up some of the Preen that is deeper in the soil with the resulting slow growth.  Also, most of the recommendations on the Preen web site are to wait 2-3 weeks before planting plants in the area where the Preen has been applied.  Of course, this may vary depending upon which Preen product you are using.  

My suggestions: work in some new soil around the plant roots, and do not apply any more Preen for the growing season.  Hand water if possible with Nitrogen fertilizer added to the water.  This will allow the fertilizer and moisture to readily move through the soil and get to the roots.   In future growing seasons, remove all weeds from the area, plant the vegetable plants, add a layer of much around the plant base (without touching the plant stem) and then lightly work the Preen into the mulch and also if needed the soil further away from the plants. 

It's great that you now know your soil is healthy and really need to only add Nitrogen for plant growth.  One other thought - mulch is affective at suppressing weeds so Preen may not be needed except in the garden aisles.  Another bonus, mulch will biodegrade to add to the organic matter in your soil.  Below is an article about the various types of mulch you can use.

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/select_the_right_vegetable_garden_mulch

Hope that helps.

Diane - MSU Advanced Extension Master Gardener Replied July 28, 2024, 6:53 PM EDT

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