How Long After Using Ortho Total Kill Lawn Weed Control Can You Plant Tomatoes?

About Ortho Total Kill

• Ortho Total Kill Lawn Weed Killer is a postemergent herbicide used to kill various broad leaf weeds in lawns. This contact herbicide is available only at Home Depot stores and contains 2,4-D, MCPP-p, dicamba and carfentrazone as its active ingredients, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension website. It is available in ready-to-use and concentrated formulas that you spray on the leaves, stems, buds and flowers of undesirable plants. According to the EPA website, Ortho’s Total Kill Lawn Weed Killer is also known as Weed-Be-Gon Spot Weed Killer.

The Waiting Game

• Scotts Mircale-Gro Company suggests waiting at least a year after using Weed-B-Gon -- which has the same active ingredients as Ortho Total Kill Lawn Weed Killer -- before you plant vegetables. It suggests instead using a glyphosate-based weedkiller where you plan to grow edible plants. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website recommends waiting at least 30 days after treating the area with glyphosate-containing herbicides before planting tomatoes.

Other Options

• Other options to killing weeds without the use of chemicals are available and may be a better choice for areas where tomatoes will be grown. These options include tilling the soil, hand-pulling the weeds or covering them with black plastic. Tilling helps improve the soil, especially if you till in compost, while hand-pulling weeds can be a backbreaking task and works best on small areas. Covering the area with black plastic takes months to successfully burn and kill the weeds but doesn’t use any chemicals.

Warnings, Precautions and Considerations

• Always follow the instructions and warnings on the herbicide's label. The label provides you with all the information you need to successfully and effectively kill weeds without harming desirable plants or yourself. Always wear protective clothing -- rubber gloves and safety glasses -- when working with any chemical herbicide, and wait to apply the pesticide on a calm day to help prevent wind drifts.