How does garden spraying help?

Warmer weather also brings along a plethora of insects.

Some like ladybugs and honeybees are beneficial to your garden. Sadly not all insects are so.

While you may be able to largely protect your veggie patch or flower garden with correct watering, pruning and fertilising, some degree of insect infestation is inevitable.

Harmful pests and suckling insects such as aphids that feed on the plant are best treated with systemic insecticide that are sprayed on the foliage and kills the pest when it ingests the chemical.

Points to ponder:

• -- Always select pesticides that are designed for the pest you wish to treat.

• -- High temperatures and humidity will increase the possibility of injury from pesticides (insecticides and fungicides) by causing leaf burn. Hence avoid spraying during hot sun.

• -- Avoid spraying insecticide before a rainfall to prevent the chemicals from leaching through the soil and into the water table below, where it can enter creeks and streams, poisoning fish and other wildlife.

• -- While spraying indoor plants, temporarily move the plants to a sink or bathtub, so that you can spray them without worrying about getting the liquid over the carpet or woodwork.

• -- Last but not the least - do not overuse. Read the label before use and follow the recommendations.