Straw, manure and composmat are gardener’s friends for a healthy and productive garden. But do you know that they could also kill your lettuce, tomatoes, beans and peas?

The culprit is the widely used herbicide aminopyralid, an active ingredient in Milestone and Forefront.

This herbicide, as well as some others that belong to the same class of chemicals (such as clopyralid) developed and sold by DowAgroscience, was widely used on pastures with horses and cattle to control perennial weeds.

Although it was claimed that the herbicide should degrade within days, it has been found to persist for years. It passes through animals feeding on treated grass or hay.

Previously treated straw, well rotten manure from animals feeding on sprayed grass, or even compost converted from contaminated source may carry enough plant killer to kill your sensitive plants and harm the others.

To keep your garden save, ask questions before buying manure or compost.

To learn more about the problem and see what the company DowAgroscience, the EPA and the government have or have not done to control the problem, read this and this.

Compost is the result of decomposition of organic matters by micro-organisms. Well constructed compost is the best organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

While compost is available commercially, it is quite easy to make it in your backyard.

To start, pick a spot close to the garden or kichen to build a frame or to put a compost bin.

For the micro-organisms to work, you have to provide them food.

Composable materials fall into two categories: soft “green” with Nitrogen (kichen wastes, grass clippings, manure, etc) and woody “brown” with Carbon (dry leaves, twigs, straw, hay, coffee ground, etc).

Now layer materials into the compost bin like a sandwich: one part of “brown”, three parts of “green” and a thin layer of soil which contains millions of micro-organisms. Water the pile and keep layering.

In a few days, the pile will begin to heat up when the bacteria start working. After 2-3 weeks, the pile will shrink.

To facilitate the process of composting, turn the pile from time to time to mix the content and provide air. Add water when it looks dry.

Your compost will be finished in a few months. By making your own compost, you reduce kitchen, garden, and yard wastes and save the energy used to transport and package commercial compost.

For an excellent video about composting, click here.

If you are a backyard gardener, fall is the best time to prepare your garden for the next spring.

First, harvest veggies and preserve any extra by canning, freezing, drying or storing in a celler according to the variety to provide you with home grown veggies even in the coldest winter.

Then pull all annual crops and flowers when they are done, as well as any weeds, and put them in your compost bin to make organic compost.

Third, work 1-2 inches of organic compost and/or grass clippings into your garden beds to amend the soil. Then put a layer of mulch, such as fallen leaves, to cover the beds, which will prevent weeds from growing in the spring.

Next spring you will have garden beds with rich soil ready for planting.