Pesticide is used to control pest numbers and limit the damage they cause. Suitability Always check which plants and pests the pesticide is designed to treat. Never use a pesticide for anything other than its recommended usage. When treating food plants, check how long the safe harvest interval is, between applying the pesticide and eating the plant. Action Contact chemicals kill pests which crawl over treated surfaces or are directly hit when the chemical is applied.
Systemic chemicals enter the plant and render the sap poisonous to the pests.
They are mainly used against sap-sucking insects, such as greenfly. Liquid drenches are applied to the soil to reach underground pests, such as vine weevils. Dusts kill existing pests and make surfaces inhospitable to new arrivals. However they may leave an unsightly deposit on the plant. Pellets must be used with care where pets and children are present.