Pesticide chemicals

Jonathan Garner's reaction to chemicals.

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Summer is here and so are the pests, disease and weeds.

Last issue we discussed integrated pest management systems. This issue we'll touch on pesticides.

Regardless of whether you're using them or not, it's likely you are, or will be, exposed to pesticides. Like it or not, they're an important part of our industry. Toxicities can range from mild through to quite dangerous, and let's be honest, most of us drive around with various bottles of pesticide chemicals in our vehicles.

Types

Many effective and toxic chemicals are available online nowadays, and nothing's stopping you from buying and using them. If you're using or planning to use 'top shelf' or non-retail chemicals, you should do your chemical certificate training. At the very least, you should have a solid understanding of modes of actions, hazard ratings, and the exposure risks to you and the environment.

Before you dismiss the relevance of this information, please take five minutes to read it. It never hurts to gain extra knowledge. After all, it's why you picked up the magazine in the first place.

The word 'pesticide' is an umbrella term for the broad range of chemicals used within the horticulture and agriculture industries. Simply put, insecticides deal with pests like aphids, caterpillars, flies and mosquitoes. Herbicides control weeds. Fungicides control mildews, rusts, rots and so forth. Miticides control various spider mites and ticks. Bactericides control diseases like cankers, blights and scabs.