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Use, store pesticides wisely
A household pollution collection event will be in Tulsa on Nov. 7-8.
By BILL SEVIER Ask a Master Gardener
Published: 10/31/2009 2:19 AM
Last Modified: 10/31/2009 5:14 AM
How long can I store an insecticide in my sprayer once it has been mixed? Jim C., Tulsa.
You shouldn't store any garden chemical after diluting and mixing. This is important and applies to all the garden pesticides — insecticides (bug killers), herbicides (weed killers) and fungicides (disease treatment).
Once you mix a pesticide chemical concentrate into water, many of them become unstable and will begin to deteriorate. It may be totally inactive after a few hours. How fast and to what extent it breaks down varies with the chemical. This information is not usually available on the label.
In addition, when a chemical is placed into an unlabeled spray container, the real possibility of confusion about contents often arises, not only for you, but for others. A potential exists for using a chemical in the wrong place, which could be hazardous to your plants as well as your family, especially if vegetables are involved.
Always try to mix the amount of pesticide needed for a one-time use. Any excess should be applied to the landscape area permitted by the label. Never pour excess chemicals into the sewer system or into street drains. This is irresponsible; the pesticides end up in our waterways.
Pesticides are useful, but they should be used wisely. Never use one without forethought and for a specific reason. When you do, always follow the labeled directions which will have instructions regarding not only usage, but storage and disposal.
When chemicals in original
containers are no longer needed, use the service of the city of Tulsa for disposal. The unneeded pesticides should be taken in their original containers, with labels attached, to the collection site where they are then destroyed properly.
Two Household Pollution Collection Events are held per year in Tulsa. The next event is on Nov. 7-8 at Gate 7 of the Tulsa Fairgrounds. Pollutants will be collected from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those days. At the collection site, workers will remove pollutants from your vehicle.
Visit tulsaworld.com/met or call 584-0584 for more information.
By BILL SEVIER Ask a Master Gardener
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