Let's start with the information that every chemical substance introduced into the environment is harmful, not only for selected pests or plant diseases, but also for other living organisms, including ourselves.Pesticides should not be used if the garden is used by children (not only on the day of spraying!), Beloved pets or a plant nearby that is being eaten.Contrary to appearances, it is very easy to get poisoned by chemicals. It is enough that a strong wind breaks after the treatment and transfers the particles to our gazebo or to the fruit that we planned to collect.
Before we decide to spray, let's arrange:
- Is what we have diagnosed as a disease for sure? Perhaps these are confusingly similar symptoms of micronutrient and macronutrient deficiencies.Here is the basic difference - in a malnourished plant, symptoms are evenly distributed, there is no one specific focus of inflammation, as in the case of a disease.
- Let's try to accurately determine the infection or pest species. If we have a problem with this, take a fragment of a damaged shoot or a caught pest to the garden store and show the seller or consult a more experienced garden plotter.
- Determine whether the spraying performed at this point will be effective.The fact that we see symptoms does not always mean that the pest or disease has just started its activity. Repeatedly observing larvae, e.g. on cherry fruits, only proves that the insect laid its eggs long ago, in the flower bud phase, and now we only have effects that cannot be prevented.
- Consider whether the infection or the pest has attacked such a large part of the plant that we cannot do without spraying. Perhaps it is enough to cut off and burn diseased fragments of shoots or wash off a small amount of pests. Great results are achieved when the plants are in close proximity and by crop rotation. We should also remember to destroy any leftovers.
- When we decide that the spraying is necessary, let's start with ecological preparations, i.e. made of natural ingredients, such as garlic or nettle.Ecological spraying is not less effective, but more time-consuming.If you do not want to make preparations yourself, ask the store for natural products, and only as a last resort use chemical ones.
Dosage according to the leaflet
When buying plant protection products, always check whether they have the leaflet and what the expiry date is.The vast majority have a 2-year shelf life, and after that period they are not fit for use.Always buy only the necessary amount of a given preparation, do not store them at home! Let's read the labels carefully. If the product is intended for edible plants, check the timing of the spraying and the period from it to harvest. Remember that a crop harvested too quickly will be poisonous.
Always use the preparations in the manner and dose specified in the instructions! Do not use larger amounts, because the effect will not be better. On the contrary, we can accidentally destroy the entire plant. When the manufacturer recommends re-spraying after the specified period, also respect this deadlineFailure to re-spray or apply it earlier or later than recommended, may ruin all work.
Date and method of execution
- Spray it in the early morning, late afternoon or evening, only on cloudy, windless and dry days. Both rain and wind will remove the center from the plant immediately.
- It is forbidden to perform treatments near the neighbor's plot, ponds, ponds, water courses, i.e. environments in which aquatic organisms live.Such agents are deadly to them.
- Always wear rubber gloves, a mask that covers the nose and mouth, and protective glasses. If the leaflet so says, also wear protective clothing, e.g. a disposable apron available at a garden store.
- Avoid contact of the chemical with any exposed part of our body, and if this happens, wash it immediately with water.
- We do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
- Let the residents know not to stay nearby for the time of spraying. Let's close the pets in the house.
- If you want to spray only one plant in a thicket of different species, use a cover that will prevent the preparation from spreading to other specimens.It can be a piece of glass or a stiff foil.
- After applying the agent, thoroughly wash the containers used with water. We spread the washings regularly on the ground, where we will not be cultivating anything for the next year. Note - they cannot end up in the domestic sewage system!Three-time washed containers can be disposed of in the ordinary garbage - they are not suitable for recycling.
- Store the remaining remnants of the preparations in the original packaging with the label.We place them in places inaccessible to children, cool and dry.The safest, however, is to return the unused remnant of the agent to any garden store, market or nursery selling such products.
