Fall and early winter are an effective time to use pesticides, a broad term that includes products that kill insect pests and also kill weeds (herbicides). Waukesha tree and Landscaping professionals at Green Man recommends.
Insect pests
Many people don’t have to use pesticides at
all,” says Peter Gerstenberger, senior advisor for safety, standards and
compliance for the Tree Care Industry Association. “Professionals may
be able to solve landscape problems without pesticides by choosing
non-chemical alternatives, such as sanitation procedures and selecting
shrubs and ornamental trees that are less susceptible to diseases and
insects. For example, an infestation last year may only require all the old plant material be cut out, Often, cultural practices (pruning, raking leaves, etc.) will go a long way toward solving pest problems.”
For homeowners who decide to use pesticides, the Tree Care Industry Association offers these suggestions:
- Identify the pest first. There is no use in applying a pesticide that won’t address your pest problem.
- Don’t be tempted to use agricultural chemicals. They aren’t designed for use by homeowners. A small miscalculation in the mixing of a small batch could result in drastic overdosing.
- Buy the least toxic chemical. Most chemicals available to homeowners use the signal words “caution,” “warning,” or “danger” on their labels. Try to avoid those with the “warning” and “danger” labels, as they are more hazardous.
- Never mix herbicides with other kinds of pesticides, and never use the same equipment to spray herbicides and other pesticides. You could unintentionally kill the plants you are trying to protect.
- Don’t mix or store pesticides in food containers, and don’t measure pesticides with the measuring cups and spoons you use in the kitchen. Always store pesticides in the original container with the label intact.
The best choice may be to
consult a professional who can diagnose pest problems and recommend
chemical or non-chemical alternatives. A beautiful lawn, shrub or tree
isn’t worth the trade-off if pesticides are not being used properly.
Herbicides
Fall is a good time to inspect
walkways, driveways and patios for those annoying trapped seeds. Despite
drought and frequent sweeping, some seeds from weeds, grasses and trees
will have germinated, lining joints with unsightly green. Other seeds
simply lie in wait until the spring. This new growth must be stopped
before the growing season arrives and those small cracks become gaping
holes filled with vegetation.
Herbicides are the most
cost-effective way of eliminating unwanted weeds, but homeowners need to
be careful when using herbicides! When they are used improperly, they
can just as easily kill your valuable mature trees and shrubs as
sprouting weeds. Only products approved for use on non-crop areas should
be considered. Users should read the product label to ensure proper
application methods.
“Herbicides should not be
applied on or near desirable trees,” cautions Gerstenberger, “or on
areas where their roots may extend or in locations where the herbicide
may be washed or move into contact with their roots. Even properly
applied chemical applications may be affected by rainfall. Some
herbicides can be washed off paved surfaces or soak into the ground
through the cracked joints – the very place with the greatest
concentration of fine tree roots.”
If you are thinking about using
herbicides, hire professional arborists. They will choose the correct
type of herbicide for the job.
