Roundup Contamination: How Long Before Planting an Organic Garden?

Gardener sprayed Roundup (glyphosate) on lawn before veggie planting. Glyphosate binds tightly to soil but degrades via microbes—half-life 3–60 days depending on conditions. Heavy rain or irrigation speeds leaching.

General guideline: wait 3 weeks, then till in compost/manure to boost microbial breakdown. For certified organic status, a 3-year transition is required. For home gardening, a soil bioassay (plant sensitive seeds like beans) can confirm safety.

Always read the label; some formulations have longer residuals. Building soil biology is the best remediation.