SHREVEPORT, La. – When gardeners think about expiration dates, they usually think about what’s in the pantry or medicine cabinet — not what’s sitting in the shed or garage. But many common gardening products, from potting soil to pesticides and fertilizers, lose their effectiveness over time.
Jennifer McGimsey of Akin’s Nursery says potting soil is one of the most overlooked items when it comes to shelf life.
“Potting soil doesn’t last forever, especially if it’s been exposed to the elements,” McGimsey said. “Heat, rain and the plants themselves all use up the nutrients over time.”
While most bags of potting soil don’t come with a clearly printed expiration date, McGimsey recommends treating them as if they do.
“There’s not a published expiration date, so I always tell people to take a Sharpie and write the purchase date right on the bag,” she said. “That way you’ll remember how old it is.”
As a general rule, she suggests refreshing potting soil every year or two, particularly for container plants that rely entirely on that soil for nutrients.
The same principle applies to many other gardening products, including fertilizers and insecticides.
“The efficacy of those products is strongest within the first year,” McGimsey said. “Over time, the chemicals break down and they just don’t work as well.”
Proper storage also plays a key role in how long products remain effective. McGimsey advises keeping them out of extreme temperatures.
“You don’t want them freezing, and you don’t want them getting super hot,” she said. “Both of those conditions can really deteriorate the product.”
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