What do these people have in common? Lawn enthusiast supplying granular crabgrass preventers. Pet owners washing their dogs with flea and tick shampoo. Housekeepers scrubbing bathroom fixtures with mold and mildew removal agents. They are all using a pesticide of one type or another.
A pesticide is any product that kills or repels pests including weedy plants or plant diseases or even household mildew molds and bacteria. Pesticides serve many purposes around the home and garden. Yet it is important to remember that pesticides are poisonous. When used carelessly they can pose danger to humans, wildlife, and our environment.
Pesticides should not necessarily be considered the first line of defense against a gardening problem. Often non-chemical control methods work just as well or better to prevent or manage a pest outbreak. Many pesticides Target only certain types of pests. Accurate identification of the problem is the first critical step in the process of selecting control measures.
After you have eliminated possible causes of your plant problem use of a pesticide may be appropriate. To find the right pesticide requires asking the right questions and reading product labels.
Consider products that may be more friendly to the environment easier on beneficial organisms and perhaps easier and safer to use.