You should be required to have an applicators license to purchase and use that and many other herbicides and pesticides. I wouldn't recommend storing anything that requires a license. There have been cases of people having spills with no license or training in the city and neighbors smelled it and called authorities which then dispatched hazmat. "It won't happen to me" turned into about $15,000.00 in clean up fees and fines for approximately one gallon of spilled herbicide that got knocked over.

2,4-D has a relatively short half-life and is rather immobile in the soil. There are some statistics at the link above. Are you sure your are dealing with 2,4-D? I some sod that will only grow grass and hollyhocks after six years.

Thanks rhizo! But, as I recall, the shelf-life of those concentrates could be anywhere from 2 to 8 years. shelf-life...that is the term I couldn't remember, thus couldn't research it very well. Cool, dark, and dry pretty much sums it up. Yes, has been stored well. Ok, in doing some more searching using 'shelf life' I found where the question was asked on another site and a Consumer Response Representative from The Scotts Company and replied. He said: Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate has a shelf life of a minimum of eight years. The product may last beyond the minimum time period though. Many variables in storage conditions can affect the shelf life of a product. Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate will not be fully effective one day and ineffective the next; the product will gradually lose its effectiveness over time. Store both unopened and opened product containers in a cool, dry place and protect them from extremes in temperature. Freezing temperatures, for example, won't affect the product, but may cause damage to the container and could result in a chemical spill. Stored correctly, your product will last at least the minimum number of years and probably longer. ------------------------------------------- It's a good policy for all of us to purchase only the amount of certain products that we are reasonably sure we'll use in one year. Going forward, when purchasing I'll consider a smaller container, or else maybe opt to split it with a neighbor who also has a high usage every year. Thank you again. Sue

Dear Quirky, Thank you very much for the inquiry. Anything, product or otherwise, has the ability to be abused. Chemicals and fertilizers are no different from alcohol or tobacco in that respect. However, with 2,4 D and synthetic fertilizers, if used judiciously in the amounts prescribed on the label and delivered properly will have no ill effects on the lawn the environment or society. Interestingly, turfgrasses show an amazing ability to metabolize and use chemicals and nutrients preventing them form ever getting to places where they can be harmful. The issue with these products comes when the applicator is careless and applies the products in a waterway (you may think ditch or stream here, but also a gutter will also be just as problematic. Will one person cause a difference? Of course not, but if neighborhoods are careless then there could be issues. This is why at my University we focus on this during our students quest for an education in turfgrass management. This way, the golf courses and athletic field managers act as stewards of the land. The more we can educate home owners, the better. Again thanks for the inquiry. Respectfully, Trey Rogers The Yard Doctor