![]() There are many ways to manage pests other than pesticides including: Other than a pesticide, what else might work? Overhead sprinkling may also reduce powdery mildew problems on some plants. Sometimes providing plants with a sunny location, opening up canopies to provide air circulation, and avoiding excessive fertilizing will keep the disease from becoming serious. For instance, powdery mildew in many plants is favored by shade and conditions that favor off-season growth. Will the conditions change due to the weather or other environmental factors? Is the problem due to gardening practices that can be changed? Each specific pest organism has optimum environmental conditions for causing damage. Prevention is always the best way to manage a pest problem. Can you change the conditions which have caused the pest to become a problem? In the case of foliar diseases, many fungicides must be applied preventatively before symptoms are noticeable. For instance, often by the time a tree is defoliated (stripped of leaves), pests are gone and sprays will be of no use. Be sure to base decisions on presence of pests-not damage levels-and on your knowledge of the pest's life cycle. However, a very high population causing severe leaf loss or damage to edible fruits or nuts may mean you would want to control the pest. How many pests are there and will a pesticide spray be justified?Ī few caterpillars on a plant might not be a problem that requires any pesticide action on your part, especially if natural enemies of the caterpillars are present. Damage can also be the result of other factors such as incorrect irrigation, poor drainage, herbicide toxicity, or physical damage. More often than most people imagine, pesticide products are applied unnecessarily because the cause of damage has been misidentified. Some questions to ask before choosing to use a pesticide include: Is a pest really the cause of your problem? Keep in mind that most pests cannot be entirely eliminated-even with pesticides. Verify that the organism you seek to control is really causing lasting damage, and research alternative management methods. DECIDING TO USE A PESTICIDEīefore using any pesticide, be sure you need it. "Pesticide" is a broad term that includes insecticides (insect killers), herbicides (weed or plant killers), fungicides (fungus killers), rodenticides (rodent killers), growth regulators, and other materials like miticides, which are used for mite control, or products that kill snails and slugs (molluscicides). DEFINITION OF A PESTICIDEĪ pesticide is any material (natural, organic, or synthetic) used to control, prevent, kill, suppress, or repel pests. Also, carefully consider whether or not a pesticide is necessary and if a nonchemical solution might be just as effective. ![]() However, when the label instructions are not followed correctly, plant injury may occur, pests may not be controlled, health may be impaired, and pesticides may contribute to soil, air, or water pollution.īefore you purchase and use a pesticide, learn all you can about the material, how to use it, and how to properly dispose of the empty containers. When used properly, pesticides can protect your plants or home from damage. Pesticides are designed to be toxic to the pests they target-whether they are insects, cause plant disease, or are weeds or other unwanted home and garden invaders.
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