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tbird
Stately Oak

Zone 6a (formerly Zone 5) Chicago

Posts: 2,168

my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 14:22:48 GMT -5

Post by tbird on Jul 26, 2015 14:22:48 GMT -5

Getting work done on my garage. When it was pressure washed to prep for painting, there was a lot more paint chips and spreading than I anticipated. I should have tarped a few things - but didn't.

my peppermint patch has a lot of paint chips in it. - and then there are a few other spots compromised too. I'm cleaning up as best I can but to some extent - I guess I have to let go of perfection?

I am going to dispose of all the mint and send out to the city pickup rather than my usual composting of all yard waste....

any other advice?

there is probably some portion of this that is going down to leaded paint, as some areas got to bare wood and the house is 100 years old..

Thanks for any advice.

brownrexx Stately Oak Southeastern PA, Zone 6b Posts: 7,780	my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 14:44:15 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by brownrexx on Jul 26, 2015 14:44:15 GMT -5 Unless you actually eat the paint chips the lead will not come out of them so I would not be too worried. Just clean up as many chips as you can.

Mumsey Stately Oak Posting since 2002. In the land of corn and pigs, where the smell of pigs is MONEY! Posts: 18,542	my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 14:53:03 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Mumsey on Jul 26, 2015 14:53:03 GMT -5 That would be my suggestion also. Several years ago we power washed the garage to paint and chips were everywhere. Just picked up the majority and left the rest.
	East Central Iowa, Zone 4-5

tbird Stately Oak Zone 6a (formerly Zone 5) Chicago Posts: 2,168	my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 15:02:58 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by tbird on Jul 26, 2015 15:02:58 GMT -5 thanks! I will do as you say!

desertwoman
Stately Oak

Posts: 16,581

my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 15:05:36 GMT -5

Post by desertwoman on Jul 26, 2015 15:05:36 GMT -5

Do you have a vacuum of some sort to use?
I have a shop vac that I use to pick up odd stuff.
I also have a leaf blower/vacuum
And a tiny vacuum we use for the car.

If the paint is post 1978 you probably have led free paint. It was banned in the US that year for household paints .

I agree- clean up what you can and enjoy your mint.

Northern New Mexico 7000' desert plateau
Zone 7a (formerly Zone 5, then 6a, 6b)
Posting since 2005

pepperhead212
Stately Oak

Posts: 8,291

my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 16:02:03 GMT -5

Post by pepperhead212 on Jul 26, 2015 16:02:03 GMT -5

My first thought was the shop vac, too, but then, I have 3 of them! LOL

I'm with the others - get out what you can, and enjoy your mint! And when it dies off from cold, weed-wack it level, and scoop out a thin layer of the soil, if it seems you still see any chips.

Dave in 7a/7b Woodbury, NJ

datgirl Stately Oak Posts: 5,038	my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice? Jul 26, 2015 17:43:35 GMT -5 Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by datgirl on Jul 26, 2015 17:43:35 GMT -5 I would agree with everybody else. Get up as much as you can and don't sweat the small stuff.

my organic mint patch has been compromised! Advice?

Post by tbird on Jul 26, 2015 14:22:48 GMT -5

Post by brownrexx on Jul 26, 2015 14:44:15 GMT -5

Post by Mumsey on Jul 26, 2015 14:53:03 GMT -5

Post by tbird on Jul 26, 2015 15:02:58 GMT -5

Post by desertwoman on Jul 26, 2015 15:05:36 GMT -5

Post by pepperhead212 on Jul 26, 2015 16:02:03 GMT -5

Post by datgirl on Jul 26, 2015 17:43:35 GMT -5

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