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Biodegradable Packing Peanuts as Herbicide?

A gardener asked if ground biodegradable packing peanuts could work like corn gluten meal as a pre-emergent herbicide.

Answer

Unknown. "Biodegradable" doesn't guarantee herbicidal properties or safety for off-label use. Manufacturing may destroy any active compounds. Contact the manufacturer for composition and safety data before experimenting.

Corn gluten's pre-emergent effect is specific to its protein fractions; random bioplastics are unlikely to replicate it.

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