Safety

Protection

There are growing seasons when all else fails and it is necessary to pull out the big guns, pesticides. Following are a few guidelines that will help you protect your family, your garden and the environment:

• Always be aware of the product you are using. Read the label carefully and thoroughly before you purchase it, know exactly what you are using.
• Follow the instructions to the letter and use the pesticide only when and where the label says.
• Never apply pesticides when rain is eminent. Look at the weather forecast and wait for a dry spell if possible. Even a small rain shower is capable of producing a runoff that has the potential of carrying pesticides to area waterways. Also, be aware of the wind. Apply pesticides early in the morning or late in the evening when the wind is the calmest.
• Use the least toxic chemical that will do the job and spot-spray infested areas rather than broadcasting over wide areas.
• Use pesticides that degrade rapidly. Rapid degradation reduces the risk of the pesticide becoming stormwater runoff.
• When each individual within a community makes a conscious effort to do just one little thing differently, in a more environmentally friendly manner, the entire earth will reap the benefits.