Safe to grow vegetables near accidentally used Terro powder? - Ask Extension
I accidentally used some Terro ant control powder around a raised vegetable bed. I believed that it was safe for gardens, but upon closer inspection, ...
Knowledgebase
Safe to grow vegetables near accidentally used Terro powder? #903493
Asked May 29, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT
I accidentally used some Terro ant control powder around a raised vegetable bed. I believed that it was safe for gardens, but upon closer inspection, the container says "for gardens: roses, flowers, and ornamentals." I realized my mistake and raked up the loose powder for disposal, along with digging a 2" perimeter around my raised beds and replaced the soil with a mixture of topsoil and garden soil. Is it still safe to grow my vegetables? Or do I need to dig a deeper perimeter to dispose of the affected soil? I did not use the powder inside the beds, only around the outside.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
According to the National Pesticide Information Center, Deltamethrin, the active ingredient in Terro Dust, " has a half-life of 5.9-17 days on plant surfaces. It is unlikely to be taken up by plants, since it binds to soil particles so tightly."
Go here to read the entire account of this pesticide's toxicity:
https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DeltaGen.html
Based upon this information and what you have done to remove the dust, vegetables grown in the raised bed should be wholesome.
Go here to read the entire account of this pesticide's toxicity:
https://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/DeltaGen.html
Based upon this information and what you have done to remove the dust, vegetables grown in the raised bed should be wholesome.
