When your lawn suffers from pest infestations, pesticides offer an effective control solution. But lawn pesticides can also be useless (and dangerous) if misapplied. On top of all that, storing and disposing of pesticides can also be hazardous if done incorrectly.
It’s important to keep your family and pets safe from toxic chemicals. Our guide to using pesticides on your lawn covers all corners of your yard and will help you find the right pesticide for the job.
What is a pesticide?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a pesticide as any substance or mixture that prevents, destroys, or repels pests. Some common types of pesticides include:
- Acaricides
- Fungicides
- Herbicides
- Insecticides
- Rodenticides
How do you decide if you should use a pesticide?
Pesticides aren’t always the best solution for a pest problem. But sometimes, they’re the only control method that will wipe out your pest problem for good.
So how do you know whether to use pesticides on your lawn? Here are a few factors to consider before making your decision:
- Risk factors: Improper use of pesticides can negatively affect human health, endanger pets and other non-target animals, and harm the environment. If you want to minimize these hazards, but pesticides seem like your only option, consider an organic pesticide.
- Infestation severity: If you’re battling a severe pest invasion that’s beyond your control, pesticides can prove helpful. For example, it might be too tiring to manually remove an army of dandelions in your yard.
- Pest type: Some outdoor pests carry harmful diseases and are a danger to our health, such as mosquitoes and ticks.
- You’ve tried and failed: Pesticide-free methods, such as integrated pest management, aren’t always enough to get rid of pests and a combination approach is the best alternative.
- Your tolerance: If you’re persistent with pesticide alternatives and a few remaining weeds or bugs don’t frazzle you, you might not need pesticides. But if you’re determined to achieve a pristine lawn with no sign of pests, pesticides can help you get there.
How do you choose the right pesticide?
Identify the pest
When choosing a pesticide for your lawn, determine what kind of pest you need to exterminate. For example, is it an insect or a rodent? Different pesticides target specific types of insects, such as mosquitoes, scorpions, or even weeds like dandelions.
For example, an herbicide labeled for nutsedge control won’t offer effective dandelion control. If you misidentify the pest, you risk using a pesticide that won’t be effective. Always check the product label to determine what pest the chemical pesticide targets.
Organic vs. inorganic pesticides
Pesticides fall into two categories, both of which should be handled with care: organic pesticides and inorganic pesticides.
- Inorganic pesticides contain synthetic chemicals made in a laboratory.
- Organic pesticides contain chemicals that come from natural resources.
So what’s the difference between the two, and which is best for your lawn?
| Inorganic pest control | Organic pest control |
| Less expensive | More costly |
| Straightforward application process | Require careful timing and special handling |
| Long-term pest control | Short-term pest control |
| Fast results | Reapplications necessary |
| Long shelf-life | Short shelf-life |
| Contaminate runoff, ecosystems, and the local water supply | Eco-friendly |
| Less selective, harm non-target species | More selective |
Application method
Read the application instructions before you add a pesticide to your shopping cart. Here’s why:
Some pesticides come as ready-to-use products, which means there’s nothing you need to do to prepare the product.
On the other hand, some pesticides require accurate measuring and dilution in water. So if you have a strong preference for ready-to-use pesticides, keep your eyes open for it. Some pesticide application methods include:
- Ready-to-spray liquids: These pesticides attach to a garden hose which dilutes the solution as you pass over your yard.
- Ready-to-use products: Prediluted chemicals that often come with a battery- or pump-operated sprayer.
- Dust: Sprinkle these powdery chemicals on your lawn to prevent pests.
- Granules: Similar to dust, granules are small chunks of powdery pesticide that work with a lawn spreader.
- Pellets: Pellets have a rounded shape, and like granules and dust, you can sprinkle them in infected areas of your landscape.
How do you apply pesticides?
Always handle pesticides with caution. Applying pesticides in a manner that doesn’t follow the label’s directions and precautions is illegal and renders the chemical ineffective or dangerous.
So how can you apply pesticides with safety in mind? Here’s what you need to know:
Always read the instructions
The golden rule of pesticide application is to follow the instructions listed on the product’s label. Pesticide labels explain the best time of year to apply the pesticide, how much to use, and how to prepare the solution. Some common information to look for on the product label includes:
- Active ingredients: If you are applying chemicals to your yard, you want to know what you are spraying on your yard. Be aware of how the chemical will affect your grass or pets or children who might romp around the yard.
- Environmental hazards: Some provide application warnings regarding use near bodies of water.
- Targeted pest: Pesticide treatments won’t be effective if you’re not using the right kind and disrupting the insect’s life cycle. Always choose a selective pesticide whenever possible to minimize the risk to beneficial insects like caterpillars and pollinators.
Wear safety gear
Pesticides are harsh chemicals, and you don’t want to breathe them in, get them on your skin, or in your eyes. Always wear the appropriate safety gear when applying pesticides, which includes:
- Chemical-resistant long-sleeved shirt and pants
- Nonabsorbent gloves
- Closed-toe rubber footwear
- Goggles or safety glasses
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Dust/mist respirator
Wait for the right weather conditions
To apply pesticide properly, wait for a day with little to no wind. Gusty blasts of wind will cause drift, blowing the pesticide everywhere, which is dangerous for you and your yard.
Additionally, you should wait for relatively dry conditions to apply pesticides. Don’t apply pesticide to your yard right before a rainstorm, otherwise, it will rinse all the chemicals away.
Measure accurately
Many pesticide products require preparation. If you mis-measure your pesticides and don’t follow directions, your pesticide solution might prove ineffective or harmful to the environment.
Mix your pesticides outdoors and never handle pesticides in your kitchen or a high-traffic area.
Pro tip: Never use your pesticide mixing equipment (such as spoons or measuring cups) to prepare food, even after you wash them.
Bring children, pets, and toys indoors
Pesticide exposure is harmful to children and pets. Before you apply pesticides, send the kids and pets indoors and put their toys away, squeaky toys and all.
Close windows and doors
You don’t want pesticide mist and dust getting into your home. Close all windows and doors before you start spraying pesticides on your lawn.
No food or drinks allowed
As tempting as it might be to grab a snack while you work, don’t do it. Eating food or drinking liquids as you handle pesticides may lead to harmful exposure or poisoning.
Understand signal words
Some pesticides are more dangerous than others. Check for the following signal words so you’re aware of how poisonous the pesticide is to humans:
- DANGER appears on very poisonous, irritating, or corrosive pesticides
- WARNING appears on moderately poisonous pesticides
- CAUTION appears on the least toxic and least hazardous pesticides
Clean up spills
It’s best to avoid a pesticide spill as much as you can, but accidents happen. Have a dry, absorbent material nearby before you begin handling the pesticide, such as kitty litter (preferable), sawdust, paper towels, or newspaper.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension recommends the following for cleaning up pesticide spills:
- Keep children and pets away from the spill.
- Cover the pesticide with absorbent material to prevent the spill from spreading. Do not wash the spill with water.
- Carefully collect or sweep up the absorbent material and put it in a heavy-duty plastic bag. Remember to wear rubber gloves to protect yourself.
- Clean the area with heavy-duty detergent or bleach (remember, bleach can be hazardous). Use only the amount you need to cover the spill. Do not wash down with water.
- Cover the area with the absorbent material again and then collect it into a heavy-duty plastic bag.
- Seal the cleanup materials (including the broom) in a heavy-duty plastic bag and dispose of them as directed on the product label.
Wash clothes and hands
After applying the pesticides and storing them away safely, it’s time to wash your hands, shower, and clean your protective gear. Wash your protective clothing in a separate load of laundry.
How do you store pesticides?
Safe pesticide storage is just as necessary as safe application. If you don’t store it properly, you put children and pets at risk of poisoning. Here’s what to do:
- Read and follow the product’s instructions for safe storage.
- Store pesticides away from food, animal feed, and medical supplies.
- Keep pesticides out of reach of children. Lock pesticides in a cabinet or garden shed.
- Keep pesticides in their original containers.
- Do not remove labels from the container.
- Do not store pesticides in areas where they might spill and leak into wells, groundwater, drains, or bodies of water.
- Do not store pesticides where flooding is possible.
- Store flammable liquids away from an ignition source, such as a car, lawn mower, or furnace.
How do you dispose of pesticides?
So, you have some leftover pesticides you need to get rid of? Well, you can’t toss it in your household trash or pour it down a drain (that would be unsafe). But here’s what you can do:
- Read and follow the product’s instructions for safe disposal.
- The best way to dispose of excess pesticides is to use them.
- Do not pour pesticides down the sink or into the toilet.
- Never reuse an empty pesticide container. When the container is empty, seal it and place it in the trash.
- Check with your local solid waste agency or health department to learn more about your area’s household hazardous waste collection programs.
Pesticide-free alternatives
Here’s the thing about pesticides: You want to use them as a last resort. Synthetic pesticides can put you, your family, and the environment at risk. And while organic pesticides are usually more eco-friendly, some are still hazardous.
Pesticides are dangerous for children and pets, and garden pesticides and insecticides put beneficial pollinators at risk. In many cases, homeowners use outdoor pesticides as a bandaid for an underlying problem.
Pests are attracted to poorly maintained yards or those suffering from a turfgrass disease or fungus. Solving the root cause will often help prevent pests in the future, and in some cases, pesticides might not be suitable for the job. There are also pesticide-free ways you can protect your lawn from future invasions.
Integrated pest management
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a long-term approach that prevents pests through various techniques, such as biological control, modified cultural practices, and habitat manipulation.
IPM prioritizes the health and safety of humans, the environment, and non-target animals, and only resorts to pesticides when necessary. Here are some examples of how you can practice IPM:
- Practice good lawn care: An unhealthy lawn is more vulnerable to pest invasions. Improving your lawn care will help relieve the ailment that’s attracting pests in the first place.
- Remove food sources: This might look like sealing your compost bin, closing your outdoor garbage cans, or cleaning your outdoor dining area.
- Remove water sources: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. Consider removing water sources like bird baths, empty flower pots, or empty buckets.
- Remove the pest’s habitat: Habitats include dense vegetation, woodpiles, leaves, or thick thatch.
- Encourage predators: Encourage natural enemies to inhabit your lawn. Common predators include birds, bats, lizards, nematodes, frogs, and toads.
- Hand-pull weeds. Instead of using a chemical pesticide to eradicate the weeds in your yard, try pulling them by hand instead.
DIY pest control vs. hiring a professional
Whether practicing IPM or applying pesticides, DIY pest control is a viable solution for many homeowners. If your yard suffers from a particular pest, you can usually find the specific pesticide for your pest problem in stores.
However, hiring a professional pest control company might be ideal if you’re uncomfortable with chemicals or your pest problem just won’t seem to go away. For severe infestations, save yourself time, money, and stress by hiring a pro to do the job for you.
FAQ about using pesticides
Should you mow before or after applying pesticides to your yard?
Mow your lawn before applying pesticides. Short grass increases soil contact, making the treatment more effective. Don’t mow for one to two days after applying pesticides to give the chemicals time to work.
Pro tip: Don’t bag the grass after a pesticide treatment. Leaving a thin layer of grass clippings on your lawn after you apply pesticides supplies your grass with nutrients.
How long does pesticide stay on grass?
Look for information on the label about how long the pesticide will stay on the grass. On average, pesticides will stay on the surface of your lawn for around 6 to 24 hours.
Should you water after applying pesticides to your lawn?
No. Watering your grass after applying pesticides washes away the chemicals, rendering the lawn treatment useless. Always check the product for label instructions on how soon you can water after the pesticide treatment.
Most lawn pesticides dry in 2 hours. However, experts recommend waiting one day after a pesticide application before watering your lawn.
Remember to practice good lawn care
Don’t underestimate the power of a healthy lawn. Pests are often attracted to poorly maintained lawns with tall grass, thick thatch, and plant debris. Autumn leaves on the ground might introduce fungal diseases, and pests such as chiggers are attracted to overgrown grass.
Why let pests rule your weekends? Instead of mowing and fertilizing, spend your free time doing what matters most. Let Lawn Love connect you with a local lawn care professional to do the hard work for you. And if pests are ruining your plans, PestGnome can connect you with a professional pest control company, so you can keep insects out of sight and out of mind.
Main Photo Credit: Suzanne Tucker | Shutterstock | License
