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Planting after using vinegar and salt for killing weeds #845874

Asked August 16, 2023, 9:18 AM EDT

How long should I wait to plant shrubs after using vinegar/salt/dish detergent to kill weeds? I used 1 gal vinegar with 1 cup table salt and - tablespoon dish detergent.

Wayne County Michigan

Expert Response

Linda, depending on how much you applied to the area you could have significantly lowered the soil pH and increased the salinity, which could influence successful planting of the shrub. The changes and dissipation are dependent on many things, so to be safe I would recommend a soil test. Alternatively you might consider conducting a bioassay by planting something pretty sensitive in the area, like lettuce, to see if it germinates and grows normally. It would be best to compare this treated soil to untreated soil. 
Erin Hill, PhD Replied August 16, 2023, 3:31 PM EDT

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