Saturday, May 31, 2014

More is NOT better when it comes to pesticides



Men seem to be worse about this than women but there seems to be a tendency to believe that if a little is good than a lot must be better.

This is NOT True when it comes to pesticides. As a matter of fact it often has the reverse effect. A good example is 2,4-d which is a growth regulator that triggers the plants cell structure to outgrow its ability to sustain itself. If you put more than the recommended amount on the plant it will actually shut down and go into dormancy to protect itself.

The label has given the optimal amount of active ingredient for the best results at the safest rate for humans and pets.

I smell over application of weed control all during the summer. This is exposing not only the applicator but the people in the nearby vicinity. When you smell the chemical that strongly something is wrong and it is wise to contact your local Department of Agriculture and report it. The only way we will get control over applicators who are mis-using chemicals is to regulate the use of those chemicals.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

The Dangers of DIY Pest Control

Whether it is a weed or a creepy crawly; pest control becomes necessary at some point. However we need to be very careful about how we do our own pest control.

Recently we have seen many products with very powerful chemicals become readily available online. Just like medicine or anti-biotics, these can be useful and help us; but at the same time, a lack of information about how to use them can become very dangerous.

Throughout this informational blog you will hear me say over and over, "READ THE LABEL". This is a legal document designed to protect you and your family when using any type of pesticide or insecticide. It is in tiny print, written in "leagaleze" and very annoying to take the time to read. The fact most people never read the entire label leads to terrible exposure problems that have the potential to harm us and those we love. So even though it's a bore, read the label.

Take the time to study the blog pages on how to minimize your danger in pest control.