Pesticides may also be used as part of the pest management program. Be sure to use only the amount you need, and to treat only the crops that need treating. Spot treatments are effective and may be practical for home gardens. If not, do not use the pesticide. It is important to note that just because a pesticide may be botanical in origin, it does not mean that it is non- toxic.
Some botanical insecticides are more toxic than some of the commonly available synthetic chemicals.
Insecticidal soaps are also an alternative to some chemical pesticides and may be useful for certain pests, espec- ially aphids, in the home garden. Diatomaceous earth, a dessicant is sometimes used for control of insects and slugs and snails. Once it gets wet and compacted, however, it looses effectiveness. No matter which methods you choose, try to keep a record of what you did and whether it was successful. Such a record should be a great help in the future when you are faced with similar pest management decisions.