Insecticide For Strawberry Plants

From strawberry shortcake to strawberry pie, strawberries are a popular and versatile fruit. Unfortunately, because they grow in close proximity to the ground, they are also tempting to hungry insects that can completely ruin your strawberry crop. Applying a pesticide to your strawberry plants can help reduce or even eliminate pesky bugs from treating your plants like a buffet. Pesticides for residential use are available at gardening stores, as is the equipment necessary to apply them.

1. 1. 1.

      Choose an appropriate pesticide from a gardening supply store. Look for active ingredients in chemical pesticides appropriate for strawberries, such as pyrethrum, captan and malathion. Organic options include the active ingredients spinosad or bacillus thuringiensis.

1. 2.

   Wear gloves and prepare the pesticide according to package directions, adding in the correct amount of water into the sprayer canister, then apply the pesticide sprayer’s lid until it is tight. Double-check the lid to ensure the container remains leak-free.

2. 3.

   Put on breathing mask and goggles, then spray the strawberry plants’ leaves, front and back, until the pesticide is visible but not dripping excessively. For best results, do this for the first time early in the season before the plant blooms, although it can be done at any time throughout the season to prevent pest damage to your plants. Applying the pesticide while the sun is out will help it dry faster.

3. 4.

   Dispose of extra pesticide from the sprayer canister by following the instructions on the back of the pesticide’s original package. Do not flush or pour pesticide down any drain or storm drain, as pesticides can be toxic to aquatic organisms if they should get into the water.

4. 5.

   Water your strawberry plants six to eight hours after the pesticide has dried completely. Do not water the plants before this as you will risk washing off the pesticide.

5. 6.

   Re-apply the pesticide in the same manner on new growth and blooms approximately every ten days during the growing season.