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Most pesticide labels have multiple pages behind the front page. If you’ll carefully peel open the resealable label, you’ll find a wealth of important information.

Courtesy Meredith Seaver, USU Extension

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These peaches were damaged by a weed control product that was applied at the wrong time, in the wrong place, under the wrong conditions.

Courtesy Meredith Seaver, USU Extension

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Why, when, where, how and how not — all this information is on the label.

Courtesy Meredith Seaver, USU Extension

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There are so many options available for insect, weed and disease control that reading the label before you buy is the best way to avoid “purchasing” landscape mistakes.

Courtesy Meredith Seaver, USU Extension

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Most of our favorite garden vegetables are very sensitive to accidental exposure to weed killers. This squash plant was exposed when lawn weed killer was sprayed within a few yards of the garden.

Courtesy Meredith Seaver, USU Extension

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Every year we get multiple emails about plants with strange-looking leaves, and we’ve received several of these emails already this year. That must mean it’s time for our annual review about using pesticides properly.

Many people think of insecticides when they hear the word pesticide, but pesticide is an “umbrella” word that includes all the “-cides.” Herbicides to kill plants (weeds), fungicides to kill fungi, miticides to kill mites, bactericides to kill bacteria, rodenticides to kill rodents, etc. They are all pesticides. When used properly, they can provide benefits for us, but when used carelessly, they can cause problems and even create dangerous, unintended consequences.

The most important thing to understand about using any pesticide is the importance of reading the label. To avoid mistakes, read the label (all the pages of the label) before you buy it, before you use it (every time you use it) and again before you store any leftover product. Keep the following questions in mind as you buy and use a pesticide.

Before you buy it

• Is the pest I’m dealing with listed on the label?
• Is the location in my landscape (fruit trees, vegetable garden, lawn, home perimeter, etc.) listed on the label?
• Is this product ready to use, or will I need to mix it?
• Do I understand all the instructions on the label?
• Do I have the right kind of sprayer or application tools for this product?
• Do I have all the required protective equipment (gloves, eye protection, etc.)

Before you use it (every time you use it)

• Have I picked up the right container? Is this the product I need today for the place where I plan to use it?
• Is it the right time of year, the right time of day, the right temperature and the right windspeed for this product and the pest?
• How long will this application be effective?
• If I’m mixing this, am I sure about the measurements (tablespoons vs. ounces, quarts vs. gallons) and the containers I’ll use?
• If I’m mixing this, how much do I need to prepare? What is the right amount for the area I need to treat?
• What will I do with any leftover mixed product?

Before you store any unused pesticide

• Do I know the best temperature, humidity level, and other conditions for storing the pesticide products I’ve purchased so that they will still be effective when I need to use them again?
• Do I have a safe, secure place to store this product where children and pets can’t reach it?

It’s easy to think you can be casual about pesticides that aren’t sprayed, but don’t be fooled. You need to be just as careful with pesticides that aren’t sprayed — dusts, granules and baits for example — as you are with sprays. Ask yourself the same questions.

If you’ll make it a habit to ask yourself these questions every time you’re going to use a pesticide, you’ll avoid costly, risky and time-consuming mistakes in your landscapes.