Home Gardening

Take care with leftover pesticides
The Coast Gardener Newspaper and Web Column - August 25, 2001

Last week the first azalea caterpillars of the season appeared in the Master Gardener office at the Extension Service. A gardener found several of them having a feast on his azaleas. These critters are black with reddish colored heads and white stripes down their sides. They can certainly appear aggressive the way they arch their backs when bothered.

Although they will quickly devour azalea leaves, they are easy to control. Scouting for them is very important. They often do significant damage before they are noticed. Gardeners who are not squeamish can simply pick them off the plant. They do not sting like some caterpillars. If playing with bugs isn't your idea of fun, try a biological worm spray containing the bacteria Bacillus thurengeinsis (B.T.). This product is safe to use around children and pets and is environmentally friendly.

As we approach the end of another summer gardening adventure, many gardeners have leftover pesticides. Sometimes it is necessary to purchase several different products, especially if you are trying to kill weeds, fight a fungus, and stop bugs from devouring your garden! The cost of these products add up and can represent a sizable expense for the gardener. Always purchase only the quantities that you need.

Sometimes it is necessary to store pesticides from season to season. This is a wonderful way to cut costs for next year. Storing pesticides correctly will extend the shelf life of the product and protect your family, pets and environment from contamination.

Read the label

Every pesticide label contains a section that specifically tells you how to properly store the product. Look for information that talks about environmental conditions like light and temperature. Extreme heat or cold along with excessive light may ruin some pesticides.

All pesticides should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. Always store them under lock and key so people unfamiliar with their use cannot mistakenly misuse them. Take precautions not to store them in areas where you keep food products for yourself or your pets. Keep clothes that you wear away from the storage area as well.

It is a good idea to keep fungicides and insecticides separate from weed killers. Any contamination of one with the other could result in injury to your plants. This is why it is so important to have a separate sprayer for weed killers.

Make sure your storage area is well lighted so you can easily read labels. Proper ventilation is essential, too. The area should have a fairly steady temperature range that is free of extreme temperatures. Many products will ruin if temperatures fall below freezing or climb too high.

Use original containers

It is very important to always use the original container for storage. The label should always remain attached. If it falls off, secure it around the container with a rubber band. Mark the month and year that you bought the product on the label so you can use the oldest one first. Keep all containers tightly sealed.

Many dry formulations like wettable powders, granules and dusts will cake if allowed to get wet. Keep these products in sealable plastic bags. This will not only reduce moisture absorption, but it will help prevent the chance of a spill occurring should the original container tear.

Remember that pesticides are potentially dangerous. If you carefully follow label directions regarding use, storage and disposal, you will protect your family, pets and the environment.

Master Gardener class announced

I want to invite any community-minded individual who loves gardening to consider applying to become a Master Gardener volunteer. These volunteers help me and the Extension Service extend unbiased, research-based horticulture information to home gardeners. Twelve volunteers will be selected for the upcoming class. The deadline to apply is September 6. Call 865-4227 and ask for an application packet. Apply today!

These archived gardening columns were written by Chance McDavid, former Harrison County Extension Agent.