While it is not illegal to use unapproved materials such as washing up liquid, coffee, vinegar or baking powder, it is good practice to only use products that are officially approved for use in the garden.
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Fertilisers and garden disinfectants and cleaning materials are not considered pesticides, although they may be covered by legislation relating to ‘biocides’.Īll pesticides must be approved. The legislation, Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and associated regulations ( The Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012 for example) extend to wood preservatives, animal repellents and materials that control plant growth such as hormone rooting powders.
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Withdrawal of the most potentially hazardous pesticides has reduced this risk, but some risk remains and using pesticides is not something gardeners should undertake lightly. Gardeners can adopt IPM and have the advantage that they can either use non-chemical hand methods, that would be uneconomical for commercial growers, to eliminate any pests or disease such as picking off pests or can use carefully directed sprays, ideally ones of short persistence such as fatty acids (soap) or oils to only wet pests and nothing else.Īny chemical or other product used to control pests, diseases and weeds is strictly legislated, under UK law. Pesticides are substances designed to kill or control the growth and behaviour of living organisms and therefore their use carries a degree of risk. A combination of practices biological control, rotation, choosing resistant cultivars, promoting natural predators and parasites of pests, and – where essential – using compatible chemicals. Integrated pest management (IPM) is standard practice for commercial growers. Other biological controls are available for slugs, caterpillars and an increasing range of other pests. Biological controls are effective, especially for indoor pests such as whitefly, red spider mite, mealybugs, aphids and vine weevil. Natural predators and parasites make a useful, if largely unseen, contribution to pest control. Biological control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) A low level of pest or disease damage is usually perfectly acceptable and there is therefore no need to use pesticides. Good practice in watering and feeding will promote strong disease resistant growth.Īttitudes to pest and disease damage are also important.Where problems do arise hand picking of weeds, pests and diseased foliage, hoeing, trapping and even washing off pests with the hose pipe can be sufficient to get acceptable control.Providing good drainage, crop rotations, mulching, well-planned pruning regimes and allowing sufficient space for plants can avoid problems.Choose plants well suited to the conditions and where possible have innate resistance to problems.Good gardening practice is to grow plants in ways that reduce the threat from weeds, pests and diseases.Other methods can help prevent damage from pests and diseases, or weeds.Įffective ways of avoiding garden problems Many attractive and productive gardens exist where no chemicals are used. When to use pesticides, biological control and IPM Malvern Autumn Show - 23–25 September 2022.
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