How to Use Chlorine Bleach Around Plants
Using chlorine bleach around plants is sometimes necessary when completing cleaning and disinfecting projects around your home. Because of its high cleaning and disinfecting power, chlorine bleach can also be harmful when not handled properly around plants. When small amounts of diluted chlorine bleach are introduced to plants, it can actually be beneficial. However, if large amounts are absorbed by plants, the chlorine bleach can affect the mineral absorption of the plants, thus causing plant death.
Dilute the chlorine bleach before use. For proper disinfecting without killing plant life, add 1 tbsp. per 1 quart of water.
- Using chlorine bleach around plants is sometimes necessary when completing cleaning and disinfecting projects around your home.
- Because of its high cleaning and disinfecting power, chlorine bleach can also be harmful when not handled properly around plants.
Cover any outdoor plants using plastic garbage bags or plastic sheeting when working with a chlorine bleach product around them. To prevent any accidental bleach exposure to the plants, do any projects that require the use of bleach on a driveway or distant part of your lawn where landscaping won't be affected.
Use a hand-pump garden sprayer to use pure chlorine bleach as a weed killer. Other spraying methods, such as garden hoses with a spraying attachment, risk over-spraying the chlorine bleach onto landscaping plants.
Chlorine Bleach Around Plants
Chlorine bleach is used in many households as a disinfectant and as an effective cleaning solution. Small amounts of diluted chlorine bleach are safe for plants and in some cases even helpful. water is a safe dilution to use for cleaning and disinfecting. Straight chlorine bleach burns leaves. Use chlorine bleach in an area that won’t affect your outdoor plants. The water will help to dilute the chlorine bleach and prevent leaf scorching. If you use a sprayer that attaches to a garden hose or a pump-style sprayer, you risk overspraying the chlorine bleach onto decorative landscaping and shrubbery.
- Cover any outdoor plants using plastic garbage bags or plastic sheeting when working with a chlorine bleach product around them.
- If you use a sprayer that attaches to a garden hose or a pump-style sprayer, you risk overspraying the chlorine bleach onto decorative landscaping and shrubbery.
Tip
Rinse any plants that were accidentally sprayed with chlorine bleach using clean water in buckets, or simply spray the plants with your garden hose. To do away with the risk of harming your plants with chlorine bleach, use oxygen-based bleach that lacks the strong, plant-harming chemicals.
Warning
Wear protective clothing and gear such as goggles, gloves and old clothing when working with chlorine bleach.
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References
Tips
- Rinse any plants that were accidentally sprayed with chlorine bleach using clean water in buckets, or simply spray the plants with your garden hose.
- To do away with the risk of harming your plants with chlorine bleach, use oxygen-based bleach that lacks the strong, plant-harming chemicals.
Warnings
- Wear protective clothing and gear such as goggles, gloves and old clothing when working with chlorine bleach.
Writer Bio
Jason M. Bruner is a freelance writer who has been in the field for more than five years. His content has been previously published on various websites.
