When your lawn is plagued by out-of-control weeds and insects, you may consider turning to herbicides and insecticides to eliminate your problems. These products are very effective at managing unwanted vegetation and bugs when added to your lawn care routine, but they also have drawbacks as well. The lawn care and gardening experts at Garden Exchange, located in Hilo, HI, explain the pros and cons of using insecticides and herbicides on your lawn.

Insecticides are used to control the insect population in lawns. They come in different forms, including sprays, powders, and baits, which determine how they are applied to the lawn. Insecticides are beneficial because they can control potentially harmful insects that rest in the grass like mosquitoes, chiggers, fleas, and ticks. These insects can spread disease, like Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and malaria, depending on the insect. Insecticides also kill insects that are damaging to lawns, like Japanese beetles and fire ants. The drawbacks to using them are that they can cause health problems if exposed to them, from skin and eye irritation to hormone disruption.

Herbicides are used to kill weeds in your lawn. They include pre-emergents which prevent weeds from growing and post-emergents that kill existing weeds. Herbicides are beneficial because you can achieve a weed-free lawn without having to dig up the weeds manually. A downside to using herbicides is that they can pollute the soil where they are applied and can get into your water supply, causing adverse effects to fish and other aquatic life. They can also kill trees and shrubs as well as the weeds you are targeting.

The lawn care experts at Garden Exchange provide gardening supplies and advice to gardeners from all walks of life. Give them a call at (808) 961-2875 or visit the website to learn more about the gardening supplies they carry.