Plant Pathology Infobytes

November 25, 1996
Safe and Smart Pesticide Use for Home Gardeners

During the gardening season, homeowners frequently rely on fungicides, insecticides, and other pesticide products to control damaging pests. Used in a responsible manner these chemicals generally provide good results, but when used in the wrong way serious problems may be the result.

Next gardening season, or whenever pesticide products are used, take time to read the label of the pesticide product you're thinking about using. Not only will you gain additional insight on how to obtain the best pest control results, but the additional information you pick up could become very important from a personal safety standpoint.

As you read the pesticide label, one of the first things to look for is an indication of product toxicity. Pesticide labels have signal words to let the user know about their toxicity rating.

DANGER--POISON (The words are in red and usually accompanied by a skull and crossbones symbol.) These are the most toxic pesticides and should be handled with EXTREME CARE. Pesticide products approved for homeowner use generally do not fall into this category. If you have a pesticide container with skull and crossbones symbols, check with your County Extension Office for further information.

WARNING--These are moderately toxic materials. However, they should still be handled with care and respect.

CAUTION--This designation indicates the least risk (the lowest toxicity) when used as directed. These products are slightly toxic materials but are still poisonous and should be handled accordingly.

Always follow label directions precisely when using any chemical, and for safety's sake, read the label in the store. It's a good idea to buy the least toxic product for the job.


Written by the late Dr. Frank Killebrew

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