Many Retail Store Employees Lack Training on Pesticides

If you’ve been relying on the garden department employees at your local discount, hardware and building supply stores to recommend appropriate pesticides, maybe you should be asking first how much training they have received. A survey conducted recently in Illinois has revealed that only 34% of about 600 retail stores with garden departments gave any training to their employees with regard to pesticide use - and that about 50% of the employees who did receive such training considered that training inadequate. (Typically, the training was provided either by store personnel or by chemical company product representatives; just 12% of trainees attended school or college classes on pesticide use.)

Given that most retail employees lack any formal training on pesticides, where do they obtain detailed information upon which they can base recommendations to consumers? Based on the results of the Illinois survey, they rely heavily on the Ortho Problem Solver and product labels. Only a few of the survey respondents consulted university or USDA literature.

Reference: George F. Czapar (University of Illinois, Springfield Extension Center, P.O. Box 8199, Springfield, IL 62791), Marc P. Curry and John E. Lloyd, "Survey of Integrated Pest Management Training Needs Among Retail Store Employees in Illinois," Journal of Soil & Water Conservation 53 (1), first Quarter 1998, 31-33. (Soil & Water Conservation Society, 7515 N. E. Ankeny Rd., Ankeny, IA 50021.)

"Military Grade" Plant Tags

No, they aren’t dog tags! Here’s what the distributor (phone 888-698-9348) has to say about "myTyes":

MyTye, the same quick, inexpensive and patented identification and security tie used by utilities, banks and the military, is simple to use., It has a paper-covered tab and any pen or permanent marker that writes on paper works on a myTye. The eight inch long stem is then looped around the trunk or a branch where it can’t slide off. It closes like a normal cable tie, so no knotting, tangling, scissors or pliers are needed. And because it’s much wider than a string or wire and doesn’t have to be tight to stay closed, it doesn’t cut into tender bark or stems. And once closed, it can’t be opened...you can be sure it will be there when you return...

On the technical side, myTyes are UV-resistant polyethylene (surviving at least seven years outside in Florida), cold-weather-tested in Michigan, chalking-stabilized for five to seven years, depending on color and heat-stabilized (-68°F to +185°F). And they’re tough: 2,500 psi tensile strength at breaking...So, accidental removal of a properly tightened tie is virtually impossible. In addition, myTyes meet or exceed the new U.S. military standards for 100% tamper-evident lead-free seals...they’re even FDA certified for use with food.

MyTyes are inexpensive in retail packs of 10, 20, 50 or 100 and in bulk packs of 250. They are available in four standard colors: discreet black, blue or green and attention-grabbing orange.

Fall Webworm

Fall webworm is numerous in central Illinois and is present throughout the state. In northern Illinois, all of the webs should be small enough to control by pruning out the web. Remember that this caterpillar stays within the web to feed, so pruning off the webs at any time of day will eliminate almost all of the caterpillars associated with them. In the central and southern areas of the state, insecticide spraying may be a better option than pruning on big webs where major branches are webbed on smaller trees. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel, Thuricide and others) and various chemical insecticides will be effective, particularly if spray pressure is high enough to get inside the web. Fall webworm spreads out its egg hatch over several weeks, so young colonies with small webs will still be produced for at least the next month throughout the state. Keep the pruners handy.

Ash Flower Gall

Ash flower gall is numerous in areas of Chicago. Many of the galls appear as fuzzy green balls one-half to one inch in diameter. Some of the galls have already turned brown. There’s really nothing that can be done at this time, but the brown galls will persist into the winter and become very noticeable after leaf drop in the fall. These galls are caused by mites that attack the male flowers. They do not affect tree health.

Annual White Grub Update

Annual white grub larvae are present throughout the state. Scout now for grubs in irrigated turf in areas where non-watered turf was dry and brownish in late June and early July. Usually at least ten to twelve grubs per square foot are needed to cause turf damage later. However, three to five grubs per square foot may be enough to attract raccoons, skunks and birds if their damage has been a problem in the past. If numbers warranting treatment are found, use shorter-acting insecticides such as trichlorfon (Dylox), bendiocarb (Turcam, Intercept) or diazinon.

Make Compost Now

Compost can be made from leaves, straw, grass clippings, manure and any other disease-free waste vegetable matter. Adding compost to your seedbed adds nutrients to the soil that will help the vegetables planted there grow faster and stronger. Compost also will help improve the tilth of the soil, making it looser and easier to work. For a free composting booklet send a SASE (.32 cents) to Compost, U of I Extension, Chicago HS for Ag Sciences, 3807 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60355.

Lawn Care

September is definitely a key month for lawn care. Practices such as seeding, sodding, aerifying, dethatching and fertilizing can all be done in September. While not all these activities can be done at once, chances are whatever your lawn needs can be done in September.

Bulbs

September is also a good month for planting. Plant spring flowering bulbs for lots of color next spring. Proper drainage is perhaps the main secret to success with spring bulbs such as tulips, crocus, daffodils and hyacinths. Adding organic matter is the best way to improve heavy clay soils. Choose healthy bulbs and plant at the suggested depth for the species. For a free factsheet on planting bulbs, send a SASE (.32 cents) to: Planting Bulbs, U of I Extension, Chicago HS for Ag Sciences, 3807 W 111th St, Chicago, IL 60355.

Trees, Shrubs and Evergreens

Many trees, shrubs and evergreens can be planted in early fall. Check with local nurseries and garden centers to see what’s available for fall planting. Be sure to have a planting plan, however, rather than just putting in some trees that "look nice" or are on sale but soon grow into a disastrous landscape design. Once planted, be sure to water as needed, especially if the weather is dry, to help assure good root development this fall.

Autumn 1998
Powdery Mildew Thrives Now | "Wet Feet" of Shrubs, Trees & Flowers | Baking Soda Update | Some Tips on Buying Firewood | Lawn Care Caldenar | Bug Bites: Slugs | Cybergarden Sites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Refrigerator Storage | Locally Grown: Edible Flowers | Pre-Washed Salad Greens | Foodborne Illness: What Consumers Need to Know | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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