What is preen? Is it safe to use in vegetables? How to use preen in vegetable garden? All these questions will be answered in the article below. Read now!
Using preen as a way of cultivating your vegetable garden is no longer new. But the severity of its effect (whether good or bad) is not deeply talked about.
If you have been gardening for quite a while now, you have most likely encountered this product and may have used it presently.
This article will discuss the practice of using preen in vegetable garden and will remind our beloved readers how to use preen in vegetable garden the right way.
Contents
What Is Preen?
Preen is a type of non-selective herbicide that stops weeds from taking control in your garden. This being selective means that it kills the plant life that it touches. It is widely used in vegetable gardens and lawns with dying bushes and grasses.
The main function of preen is to stop the growth of roots of plants, especially weeds. The downside of this product is that it does not affect the roots of perennial weeds. Perennial weeds include grasses and plants (like dandelions) that you do not want in your vegetable garden.
Can I Use Preen In Vegetable Garden?
Preen is, by all means, safe to use if you follow its recommended steps of application.
What most people are concerned about is whether this product affects the roots of vegetables?
The direct answer is yes and no, depending on the type of vegetables in question.
How to use preen in vegetable garden without killing the crops?
Know if the vegetables are recently planted or have large seeds. Preen usually does not affect the large-seeded vegetables like peas and beans. On the other hand, it may kill the roots of recently planted plants, plants with small seeds, and vegetable crops like carrots and potatoes.
How is it possible?
Large-seeded plants’ roots are well-developed and secured deep in the soil. Hence, with preen is applied on the surface of the soil, it is not absorbed deep enough to affect the roots of large-seeded vegetables.
How To Use Preen In Vegetable Garden?
Follow the steps below to know the correct application of preen in vegetable garden:
1. Pull Out The Existing Weeds In The Garden.
Clear existing weeds in your vegetable garden prior to the application of preen. The main purpose of this initial clearing is to avoid the seeds of the weeds from spreading and germinating again.
When to use preen in vegetable garden?
It is best to use preen after the harvest season. As mentioned earlier, preen is a non-selective herbicide and may affect your desired vegetables and crops.
After the harvest season, it is easy to clear the garden and prepare it for the next batch.
2. Sprinkle The Product (Preen) On The Soil.
Once the weeds are pulled out of the vegetable garden, sprinkle preen product slowly. When sprinkling, keep it low. This means that the distance between the soil and your fingers should be short.
Doing this will help prevent the preen from being carried away by the wind and accidentally landing on your desired plants.
How much preen do you apply?
The suggested amount of preen is one ounce per ten square meter. This is equivalent to 20 pecks of preen product in every square inch of lot.
3. Water Immediately Yet Gently.
The final step is to water the soil right after the preen product is applied. You may also rake the soil first to ensure it is mixed well.
Raking the soil is the best alternative if the water is not readily available in your vegetable garden. Watering the newly treated soil is a vital step on how to use preen in vegetable garden. Please be reminded always.
Another reminder to take note of is to water the soil gently. This means avoid splashing water in the close vicinity. You should ensure that the preen product is only applied on the intended soil and is not accidentally splashed on the bushes and plants around.
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