Microplastics in Your Garden: Eight Common Sources

The article reports that small plastic particles can enter garden soil from everyday garden products and materials, including landscape fabric, grow bags, netting, mulch, coated fertilizers, and some commercial compost; these particles can move into waterways and living organisms.

Microplastics are tiny particles that form as plastics break down, and the article describes how they can end up in home gardens. It notes that many common garden items contain plastic components that shed particles as they age or are exposed to sunlight and water. The piece highlights several product categories and supplies that have been reported to contribute microplastics to soil. The topic has drawn more attention because these particles can travel from soil into nearby waterways and into living organisms. Reported sources of microplastics: - Landscape fabric, which is typically plastic-based, can release microplastics as it degrades. - Fabric grow bags and plastic netting are reported to shed tiny plastic fibers with exposure to water and UV light. - Some mulches and poor-quality organic mulches, as well as plastic mulch, have been reported to introduce plastic particles into soil. - Controlled-release fertilizers with petroleum-based polymer coatings and some store-bought compost have been reported to contain or leave microplastic residues. Summary: Microplastics from common garden plastics are reported to accumulate in soil and can move into surrounding waterways and organisms, raising concerns about wider exposure to plastic-associated chemicals. The article identifies several routine product categories as contributors to that contamination. Undetermined at this time.