Is That Pesticide Safe?

Is That Pesticide Safe?

Questions related to the use of pesticides can be complicated. For example, wondering if a termite treatment might affect plants in a nearby garden. While we often aren't able to provide definite answers, there are several resources that have information to help you make decisions for your particular situation.
  1. UC's Hiring a Pest Control Company Pest Note. This includes information about how to hire a pest control company and what to expect from companies registered to provide those services.
  2. UC's Applying Pesticides Around Edible Edible Gardens has information about what to expect from pest control companies working around residential gardens..
  3. The National Pesticide Information Center: NPIC provides objective, science-based information about pesticides and pesticide-related topics to enable people to make informed decisions about pesticides and their use. NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The home page has a search field you can use to search for details about pesticides.
  4. UC IPM Pesticides in Home and Landscapes: this website includes information about less toxic pesticides and includes an active ingredient database detailing potential hazards for a wide range of pesticides. 
  5. Omri.org: The OMRI Listed® Seal assures the suitability of products for certified organic production when according to directions.

    • Related Articles

    • Fire-Safe Gardening

      Resources related to fire-safe gardening: Landscaping for Fire Protection, The California Garden Web (University of California) Make Sure Your Landscaping is Fire-Resistant, Santa Clara Master Gardeners Blog Prepare for Wildfire—Fire Safe ...
    • Wood Preservatives

      Wood preservatives have changed over the years and newer wood treatments are less toxic than those used before 2003. Iowa State University has published a helpful article on toxicity concerns about raised beds. In addition, the National Pesticide ...
    • Citrus Grafting

      If you're interested in cloning citrus, you should know about the Citrus Clonal Protection Program (CCPP). The CCPP "provides a safe mechanism for the introduction into California of citrus varieties from any citrus-growing area of the world" and ...
    • Blossom End Rot

      Blossom end rot is a common tomato problem. According to the UC Pest Note for blossom end rot, affected tomatoes will "show small, light brown spots at the blossom end of immature fruit". Typically, the damage occurs when the plants are water ...
    • Food Safety After Urban Wildfire

      UCCE of Sonoma County has a Fire Resources website with a page dedicated to Food Safety after Urban Wildfire. One of the most applicable documents for Santa Clara homeowners is a publication titled Produce Safety After a Fire that discusses human and ...