Pest Control

Pest Control is a necessary thing to do...but how we do it safely is the focus here. We laugh at this photo, but sometimes I feel this is what the consumer is doing in their home and personal environment. We have to know how to do it right.

Here are some steps:

1. Identify the pest; whether it is a weed or something crawling in our bath tube, we need to know what it is to know how to control it. The reason why is the biology and life cycle of that pest tells us if we need to do a mechanical change (such as different watering practices with fungus) or is it time to get the chemical and will the chemical actually work on that specific pest.

2. Read the Label; you have to read the label to do this right. The label will list the pest it controls and how much to use.

3. Use the amount recommended; more is not better. In the case of 2-4d, it is a growth regulator so it's mode of action is to make the plant out grow its ability to sustain itself. If you give it too much the plant recognizes this and the stomata closes down to protect the plant.

4. Follow the safety precautions; I see people in sandals, short sleeve shirts spraying chemicals around their homes all the time. I also see the obituaries full of people dyeing of cancer. Do you get it?

5. Store the chemical correctly or don't buy it in the first place. Most chemical problems happen from mis-use and a bottle in the garage where the children play is one of the first things to avoid.