Basic Chemicals, Insecticides and Herbicides
Chemicals have become one of the fastest-moving items for retail garden centers. Even though there is almost always a way for nature to correct a problem, it usually takes too long. There are chemicals to kill bugs, stop fungus, get rid of weeds, slow growth, speed up growth, and do many other things.
In the following information, most of the chemicals you will see are described. These are put into groups: Insecticides (to kill or control insects), fungicides (to kill or control fungus), and herbicides (to kill weeds and/or grasses). Some products works only on certain things, so if you don’t know, look it up.
Following are some terms you will be hearing in connection with plant problems:
Chemicals
Borer – The Larva stage (worm) of many types of beetles that borer into trees, cutting off the water and nutrients.
Chewing or sucking insects – Insects which chew or suck the juices out of plants. Usually they attack the leaves.
Contact Killer – A chemical that controls the pest by being put directly on the insect, fungus or plant foliage.
Foliar Killer – It is a chemical that must be sprayed directly on the leaves of the plant.
Organic – Made by or from nature.
Post-emergence – Chemical that kills a plant already germinated (grown). Pre-emergence – Chemical that kills a plant not yet grown (a seed that has not sprouted).
Residual – Period of time a chemical contuse to be effective.
Spot Killer – Chemical that kills plants it touches, so must be put on exact items only.
Stomach or Digestive Killer – Insecticide that kills only when insect eats it.
Systemic – Insecticide which goes inside the plants and makes its leaves poisonous.
Wettable Powder – Chemicals in powder form that mix readily in water.
Insecticides
Amdro – A fire ant killer that is a bait. The workers take the food to the queen, which kills her; then the rest of the mound dies out. Takes approximately two weeks. Not a contact killer.
Borer Killer – This product is made from Dursban. It will control borers and many other insects. It is one of the most effective killers for Elm bark beetle.
Diazinon – A real good all-purpose insecticide. It is used to control chewing or sucking type insects. Use in the garden according to directions. Kills such insects as fleas, ticks, ants, chiggers, grubs, etc.
Di-syston – A systemic insecticide to be used for non-food bearing plants. It is very, very strong, and will control almost all chewing or sucking pests.
Dipel Dust – An organic type killer used in the garden to control caterpillars and other chewing type worms.
Dormant Oil-Volck Oil – A horticultural oil used to control scale and certain eggs of other insects. It works by smothering what it covers. Do not use in extremely hot weather (over 85-90°).
Dursban – A very strong chemical that is safe to use. It controls most insects by digestion or as a contact spray. Probably the best roach controller on the market. Indoor type may be sprayed directly on carpets, etc., without staining (use test area).
Fire Ant Killer – A contact killer for the control of fire ants. Does not necessarily kill the queen, but will kill workers and force the mound to move. “Killer” uses Dursban, “Control” uses Diazinon.
General Spray – An all purpose insecticide. It has a systemic action making it useful as a stomach and contact killer. A good spray for bag worms and web worms.
Isotox – A combination spray made from Arthene and Kelthane. Works as insecticide and fungicide. A good all-purpose preventative spray for the control of insects and fungus diseases on trees, shrubs, roses, etc. Not to be used on food plants.
Kelthane – A selective chemical used for the control of mites. It is a strong chemical, but can be used on fruits and vegetables if directions are followed. Taken off market, but supposed to be returned by E.P.A.
Lindane – A very strong chemical for the control of borers. Use according to directions for fruit or nut trees. Can also be used for leaf miner control.
Malathion – A good chemical to use for sucking or chewing insects. Use for various purposes: garden use, treating seed for beetles or weevils, as a summer spray for scale, bag worm’s killer. It is a strong chemical with good residual action.
Oftanol – A granular type chemical for the lawn used for the control of grub worms.
Orthene – A strong chemical that can be used as a contact or digestive insecticide. It works as a systemic, but can be used for food crops if directions are followed.
Rotenone – An organic insect killer. Use in the garden right up to harvest. Will work both as a contact or stomach killer.
Sevin – It is a very strong chemical used for various purposes. Use in the garden or for flea and tick control. Comes as a liquid or a dust. Use liquid to spray plants, or use dust to dust plants or animals to prevent ticks, etc. Can be used in garden because residual time in short (approximately 7 days).
Zolene – A strong insecticide used for control of pests on fruit and nut trees. Use according to directions for number of days before harvest.
In the following information, most of the chemicals you will see are described. These are put into groups: Insecticides (to kill or control insects), fungicides (to kill or control fungus), and herbicides (to kill weeds and/or grasses). Some products works only on certain things, so if you don’t know, look it up.
Following are some terms you will be hearing in connection with plant problems:
Chemicals
Borer – The Larva stage (worm) of many types of beetles that borer into trees, cutting off the water and nutrients.
Chewing or sucking insects – Insects which chew or suck the juices out of plants. Usually they attack the leaves.
Contact Killer – A chemical that controls the pest by being put directly on the insect, fungus or plant foliage.
Foliar Killer – It is a chemical that must be sprayed directly on the leaves of the plant.
Organic – Made by or from nature.
Post-emergence – Chemical that kills a plant already germinated (grown). Pre-emergence – Chemical that kills a plant not yet grown (a seed that has not sprouted).
Residual – Period of time a chemical contuse to be effective.
Spot Killer – Chemical that kills plants it touches, so must be put on exact items only.
Stomach or Digestive Killer – Insecticide that kills only when insect eats it.
Systemic – Insecticide which goes inside the plants and makes its leaves poisonous.
Wettable Powder – Chemicals in powder form that mix readily in water.
Insecticides
Amdro – A fire ant killer that is a bait. The workers take the food to the queen, which kills her; then the rest of the mound dies out. Takes approximately two weeks. Not a contact killer.
Borer Killer – This product is made from Dursban. It will control borers and many other insects. It is one of the most effective killers for Elm bark beetle.
Diazinon – A real good all-purpose insecticide. It is used to control chewing or sucking type insects. Use in the garden according to directions. Kills such insects as fleas, ticks, ants, chiggers, grubs, etc.
Di-syston – A systemic insecticide to be used for non-food bearing plants. It is very, very strong, and will control almost all chewing or sucking pests.
Dipel Dust – An organic type killer used in the garden to control caterpillars and other chewing type worms.
Dormant Oil-Volck Oil – A horticultural oil used to control scale and certain eggs of other insects. It works by smothering what it covers. Do not use in extremely hot weather (over 85-90°).
Dursban – A very strong chemical that is safe to use. It controls most insects by digestion or as a contact spray. Probably the best roach controller on the market. Indoor type may be sprayed directly on carpets, etc., without staining (use test area).
Fire Ant Killer – A contact killer for the control of fire ants. Does not necessarily kill the queen, but will kill workers and force the mound to move. “Killer” uses Dursban, “Control” uses Diazinon.
General Spray – An all purpose insecticide. It has a systemic action making it useful as a stomach and contact killer. A good spray for bag worms and web worms.
Isotox – A combination spray made from Arthene and Kelthane. Works as insecticide and fungicide. A good all-purpose preventative spray for the control of insects and fungus diseases on trees, shrubs, roses, etc. Not to be used on food plants.
Kelthane – A selective chemical used for the control of mites. It is a strong chemical, but can be used on fruits and vegetables if directions are followed. Taken off market, but supposed to be returned by E.P.A.
Lindane – A very strong chemical for the control of borers. Use according to directions for fruit or nut trees. Can also be used for leaf miner control.
Malathion – A good chemical to use for sucking or chewing insects. Use for various purposes: garden use, treating seed for beetles or weevils, as a summer spray for scale, bag worm’s killer. It is a strong chemical with good residual action.
Oftanol – A granular type chemical for the lawn used for the control of grub worms.
Orthene – A strong chemical that can be used as a contact or digestive insecticide. It works as a systemic, but can be used for food crops if directions are followed.
Rotenone – An organic insect killer. Use in the garden right up to harvest. Will work both as a contact or stomach killer.
Sevin – It is a very strong chemical used for various purposes. Use in the garden or for flea and tick control. Comes as a liquid or a dust. Use liquid to spray plants, or use dust to dust plants or animals to prevent ticks, etc. Can be used in garden because residual time in short (approximately 7 days).
Zolene – A strong insecticide used for control of pests on fruit and nut trees. Use according to directions for number of days before harvest.
Herbicides
Balan – A pre-emergence weed killer for use on turf grasses, except dichondra or bentgrass. Can re-seed after 47 days. Use late winter, early spring.
Betasan – Stronger than Balan and canb e used on all turf grasses. Use late winter or early spring. Cannot re-seed for 4 months.
Doomsday – Liquid weed killer. It is used for hard-to-kill type grassy weeds like nutgrass, Johnson grass, Kudzu, and many others. Use only as spot killer in lawn areas.
Endothal – Called “winter weed killer.” Use early spring on weeds that are already up. Can be used on all type grasses, but use as the label states.
Eptam – A pre-emergency weed killer for shrub and flower beds. Do not use near-bulbs. Will kill over 200 types of weeds, including hard-to-kill types like nut grass and Johnson grass.
Kleen-Up – A diluted form of Round-Up. Use as a spot weed killer or to clean areas of unwanted foliage. It is a foliage killer, so do not put on wanted plants. Can over-seed in 7-10 days.
Liquid Edger – A foliage contact killer that is non-selective. Just apply to area, and weeds and grass will begin to die.
MSMA – Liquid weed killer for using on crabgrass and other lawn weeds. Do not use on St. Augustine grass.
Phytar 560 – A non-selctive post-emergence foliage type weed killer. It must be used to or three times on some seeds or grasses to get complete root kill.
Round-UP – A foliar contact killer for controlling weeds and grasses. Will completely kill all foliage it touches, but area can be over seeded within 7-10 days. Very strong—one gallon will cover up to 5 acres.
Term-X – A contact killer for tough weeds (nutsedge, Dallas grass, etc.) that kills roots and all. Spot spray only.
Trimec – A post-emergence granular weed killer for most lawns. Kills the weeds that are up with a low concentration of 2,4, -D.
Weed-B-Gone – For use on broad-leaf weeds in the lawn. Use with hose-end sprayer for best results.
Wipe-Out – Another post-emergence weed killer used for broad leaf weeds in the lawn
Balan – A pre-emergence weed killer for use on turf grasses, except dichondra or bentgrass. Can re-seed after 47 days. Use late winter, early spring.
Betasan – Stronger than Balan and canb e used on all turf grasses. Use late winter or early spring. Cannot re-seed for 4 months.
Doomsday – Liquid weed killer. It is used for hard-to-kill type grassy weeds like nutgrass, Johnson grass, Kudzu, and many others. Use only as spot killer in lawn areas.
Endothal – Called “winter weed killer.” Use early spring on weeds that are already up. Can be used on all type grasses, but use as the label states.
Eptam – A pre-emergency weed killer for shrub and flower beds. Do not use near-bulbs. Will kill over 200 types of weeds, including hard-to-kill types like nut grass and Johnson grass.
Kleen-Up – A diluted form of Round-Up. Use as a spot weed killer or to clean areas of unwanted foliage. It is a foliage killer, so do not put on wanted plants. Can over-seed in 7-10 days.
Liquid Edger – A foliage contact killer that is non-selective. Just apply to area, and weeds and grass will begin to die.
MSMA – Liquid weed killer for using on crabgrass and other lawn weeds. Do not use on St. Augustine grass.
Phytar 560 – A non-selctive post-emergence foliage type weed killer. It must be used to or three times on some seeds or grasses to get complete root kill.
Round-UP – A foliar contact killer for controlling weeds and grasses. Will completely kill all foliage it touches, but area can be over seeded within 7-10 days. Very strong—one gallon will cover up to 5 acres.
Term-X – A contact killer for tough weeds (nutsedge, Dallas grass, etc.) that kills roots and all. Spot spray only.
Trimec – A post-emergence granular weed killer for most lawns. Kills the weeds that are up with a low concentration of 2,4, -D.
Weed-B-Gone – For use on broad-leaf weeds in the lawn. Use with hose-end sprayer for best results.
Wipe-Out – Another post-emergence weed killer used for broad leaf weeds in the lawn
