As the weather warms this spring, Oregonians will increasingly emerge from inside their homes. Spring has arrived and homeowners are gearing up for yard and garden work.
It is also time to remind residents that home-use pesticides can be used safely and effectively if all precautions are taken. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has some basic messages aimed at homeowners this time of year, but that apply all year long. ODA also wants to emphasize that good neighbors, just like farmers, communicate when pesticides are used. That results in co-existence.
“People working in the yard and wanting to use pesticide products should first get informed and take everything into consideration,” says Dale Mitchell, manager of ODA’s Pesticides Program. “Home-use pesticides are important and often necessary in the battle against unwanted plant pests and diseases. There is nothing wrong with using pesticides– as long as they are handled properly.”
ODA licenses commercial pesticide applicators, requiring them to take a test to show their knowledge of how to use pesticides safely. Many of the materials available to commercial applicators are available to homeowners, who are not licensed and tested.
“It doesn’t have to be a concern as long as homeowners are reading the label and following its directions,” says ODA pesticide investigator Jenny Marin. “The fact is homeowners have access to many of the same pesticides as licensed applicators or farmers but they may not have the same level of education on using those products. That’s why it’s even more important for homeowners to read the label, following the instructions, and seek help if there’s anything they don’t understand.”
It all starts even before the purchase of a pesticide product. Consumers need to do their homework and identify what type of plant pest or disease problem they have. Information is available at the local garden center, county extension office, and ODA. Those resources not only identify the problem, they can point to pesticide products most effective in treating the problem.
The next step is actually purchasing the product. The most important advice is something often repeated by ODA’s Pesticides Program.
“It really comes down to three simple words– read the label,” says Marin. “The label tells you what the product can be used for, where it can be used, how much should be used, and other important instructions. When it comes to pesticide use, the label is the law for all users, including homeowners.”
After the purchase comes the application. Once again, reading the label will guide you through the proper handling of pesticides. It tells you how to mix the product. Some products may be already mixed but most need dilution before application. The label tells you when to apply. Some pesticides require dry conditions, others do fine even if it rains afterwards. Check the weather. Wind and high temperatures can move a pesticide off target. The label emphasizes keeping children and pets away from the material during mixing and application.
The presence of bees and pollinator protection must be considered. Specific information is likely to be on the label.
“Homeowners should not make pesticide applications to flowers in bloom because bees and other pollinators may be visiting those plants,” says Marin. “They should also take steps to avoid pesticide drift within their own yard when flowering plants are in bloom, even when those plants aren’t the target for the application.”
Other tips on pesticide application involve plain old common sense. Set aside the proper equipment ahead of time. If the product needs diluting, use measuring cups or spoons that are specifically used for pesticides and don’t use something normally kept in the kitchen. Make sure the product is applied only where it’s supposed to. It doesn’t do any good to apply pesticides to the sidewalk.
