There is a time and place for using pesticides in your landscape. They are a useful tool in helping control the less-desirable living things in your yard, such as weeds, destructive insects, and fungus. However, as handy as they are, they are toxic and therefore need to be used responsibly. The way we look at it at Eagleson Landscape Co. is if pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc. are toxic to other forms of life, they are probably toxic to us at some level too. To help ensure the safety of yourself, your family, your pets and your landscape, we have some tips for employing the safe use of pesticides on your landscape.
Use the Right Chemical
Most homeowners are familiar with Roundup®, a topical herbicide that kills by burning the plant. Unfortunately, this type of product does not care about what it is killing, so when you spray the dandelion in your lawn you also kill your grass. Lovely (not) browns spots are the result. Not all herbicides act this way, so make sure you understand what you are trying to achieve and find the product that will help you reach your goal.
Read and Follow the Instructions
Use pesticides without reading the instructions at your peril and that of your landscape! You could end up applying too much, wasting your money and possibly harming yourself or your yard, or you could go too weak having done nothing to solve your problem.
Use and Mix the Concentrate
Plan to mix the pesticide from the concentrate yourself by following the directions (remember the last tip?!). The pre-mixed versions are usually too weak to combat landscape issues; they’re perfect for the early growth stage of a few weeds, but if you have full-blown dandelions, they will not make a dent. Do not mix the whole bottle. Use just what you need, and if you run out, make more. You do not want the leftovers hanging around your garage and you do not want to put them down the drain into our water system. Finally, mix your chemicals in a ventilated area (outside is best) and store the rest of the concentrate in the bottle it came in, which was specially designed to safely store the chemical.
Protect Yourself and Your Family
We suggest you wear gloves, long sleeves, pants and a mask when applying pesticides, and then immediately put what you are wearing into the clothes washer. Keep your hands away from your face and wash them the moment you are done. Make sure to remove your shoes before going into your house, otherwise you are tracking toxic chemicals in.
Pick a Good Day
There are better days to apply pesticides than others – always avoid wind, and it is best if it is not too hot or cold out.
Let It Dry
After applying pesticides in your landscape, wait at least 4-5 hours before allowing pets and kids (and yourself) to walk or play on or near it.
Consider the Environment
Remember, not all insects are bad for your landscape. When you spray pesticides and insecticides, which are designed to kill bugs, good and bad, they can volatilize and drift on their own affecting insects that benefit your landscape. Honeybees are central to the cultivation of our food sources and are under threat thanks to the overuse of pesticides. Bacteria build resistance to antibiotics and plants can do the same with pesticides. Using the appropriate chemical for the job at just the right amount can help us keep our environment safe and healthy.
Pesticides have brought many benefits to us, including increased food production, lower food costs, and easier landscape maintenance. However, it is imperative that we all practice proper application techniques. Only use what you need, eliminating waste that can harm you, your family or our environment. If you have questions about the safe use of pesticides in your landscape send us an email or give us a call at (317) 997-4803.
