How safe is Preen? - Ask Extension
My church is considering the use of the product Preen to control weeds in our flower beds. I understand that it is a pre-emergent herbicide that pr...
Knowledgebase
How safe is Preen? #174117
Asked April 09, 2014, 2:00 PM EDT
My church is considering the use of the product Preen to control weeds in our flower beds. I understand that it is a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents weed seeds from germinating and does not work on weeds that have already started growing.
What are the risks of using a product like Preen to humans, to the health of the soil/plants in our flower beds, to the watershed etc? Are the risks dangerous enough to avoid using this product? If so, what are the best safe alternatives? For example, corn gluten has been recommended as an alternative.
Thanks!
Susan
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
As has been said, "the label is the law." All the information is contained on the label. These products are reviewed by Environmental Protection Agency for correctness. If the product is used in a way specified by the label, there should not be a problem. If there were obvious problems, it is highly doubtful the products would be offered to the public. I have no additional information other than what it would tell you on the label.
If you choose to not apply the product, you could make sure the beds are weed free and apply 2-3 inches of mulch like woodchips. This will block the seeds in the soil from getting enough light to grow. Bare soil is not a great idea because the soil dries out faster and heats up. Both of these are detrimental to plants.
This should be about the health of the plants and whether one wants to spend the money once or twice a season to control weeds when a woodchip mulch could do the same job. This goes for choosing Preen or corn gluten.
If you choose to not apply the product, you could make sure the beds are weed free and apply 2-3 inches of mulch like woodchips. This will block the seeds in the soil from getting enough light to grow. Bare soil is not a great idea because the soil dries out faster and heats up. Both of these are detrimental to plants.
This should be about the health of the plants and whether one wants to spend the money once or twice a season to control weeds when a woodchip mulch could do the same job. This goes for choosing Preen or corn gluten.
