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How do I manage potentially herbicide contaminated compost products?

Jil
Community Newcomer

How do I manage potentially herbicide contaminated compost products?

Hi Bunnings Workshop,

 

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In November last year, I filled a new raised garden bed with 12 bags of compost products from Bunnings (ANL Cow Manure (3), Garden Basics Tomato and Veg Potting Mix (4), Garden Basics Compost (1), Yates Premium Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter (2), and Richgro Mushroom Compost (2).

 

Unfortunately, the tomato seedlings I planted have been showing signs of herbicide contamination, with twisted growth. No herbicides are used in my garden, so the source is one or more of the soil products used to fill the bed (potentially the ANL Cow Manure mixed into the top 20 cm). Some seedlings (basil) seem unaffected while others like snowpeas and coriander died within a few days (I initially attributed this to transplant shock). 

 

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Can you advise on options for managing the contaminated soil (disposal or reuse), and if there is any recourse for a refund if I did not hang on to the receipts or packaging having never encountered this issue before (I do however have photos of the bags in my garden..).

 

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