Welcome to P.R.O.P.E.R Use
Empowering you with knowledge.
At BASF, we’re always working to improve the environmental protection, health and safety performance of our pesticides — from discovery and development to manufacturing, distribution, use, disposal and recycling.
When used responsibly, pesticides are a valuable tool to help protect homes and gardens, commercial, industrial, recreational and sporting lawn areas from damage and to help control or eradicate diseases and pests.
This P.R.O.P.E.R Use guide is part of our commitment to promoting responsible pesticide use.
We want to help Turf specialists ensure the P.R.O.P.E.R Use of BASF products when successfully treating lawn areas with our pesticides.
Here, you’ll find valuable information on pests, best practices, environmental responsibility, and plenty of additional resources — all to ensure the best results, and safety, possible.
P: Pest Identification, Application Sites and Pesticide Selection
When it comes to exterminating pests, you can’t begin until you know what you’re up against and you’ve identified the best pesticide to use. Here are some things to keep in mind as you do this:
What is the pest I want to control?
Identifying the type of pest or disease you want to eradicate is the first step in selecting the best pesticide and treatment plan for your situation.
There are three main Turf pest control groups: Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides. Within each group, there are different types of pests or diseases.
For example, within the fungicides group – do you need to control Dollar Spot infection? Knowing the disease type is important to selecting the proper pesticide.
Where is the pest or disease?
Once you’ve confirmed the pest or disease, identifying where they are situated is critically important to select the best and safest pesticide and treatment plan.
There are several things to take into account when considering the area to be treated:
Will children or pets potentially come into contact with the treated area?
Some pesticides can be harmful to children and pets and may remain on the treated area long after application. The safety and health of people and pets must be prioritized and taken into account when using pesticides. Read the product label to learn how long you must wait after the pesticide is applied before allowing re-entry into the treatment area.
Could waterways such as rivers, lakes or storm drains be affected by the application?
Preventing pesticides from contaminating waterways is critical to maintaining a healthy environment. When using pesticides outdoors, always read and follow the label directions, check your local weather report, use common sense and act responsibly. Pesticide labels will have specific instructions you need to follow if rain is expected and will guide you on how to reduce the risk of pesticide run-off into storm drains, lakes, rivers or other bodies of water. It is a best practice to not apply pesticides outdoors if rain is expected within 24 hours.
Could pollinators (such as bees and butterflies) and wildlife be affected by the application?
Preventing pollinators and wildlife from coming into contact with treated areas is critical to maintaining a healthy environment. For example, when applying insecticides outdoors never apply it on flowering plants, unless the pesticide is labeled for such applications.
What is a pesticide?
According to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), which regulates all pesticides, these types of products include “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest.” Pesticides include chemicals or biological microorganisms intended for use as rodenticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or plant growth regulators.
Which pesticide should I use?
When selecting a pesticide, choose a product specifically labelled for your particular pest or disease and application site. For example, if you want to control dollar spot disease, choose a pesticide that is labelled for use for that particular fungus and labelled for outdoor use. Similarly, if you are looking to control Fairy ring in your lawn, choose a fungicide that lists Fairy ring on the label as a fungal infection controlled.
Always follow the pesticide label directions of use.
Use the Solution Finder on our homepage to discover suggested products based on the pest, situation or solution type you're looking for.
If you have questions about which BASF pesticide may be best for your pest-control situation, you can always contact your local BASF representative on 1800 558 399.
Additional tips to ensure successful pest and disease control:
To protect lawns and gardens from pests and disease clean up fallen leaves in ornamental beds, follow appropriate timings for weed control, apply pre-emergence herbicides before the target weed has germinated and if unsure, contact your local distributor for proper identification of pests/diseases before making an application.
R: Read and Follow the Label
When it comes to pesticides, the product label is your most valuable resource on how to use the pesticide safely, effectively and responsibly.
Before purchasing any pesticide, be sure to read the label to confirm that:
- The pesticide will kill/control the pest(s) or disease(s) you need to manage.
- The pesticide can be used in the area in which you need to apply it, such as outdoors and within the recommended proximity to waterways
- The pesticide is a genuine, APVMA registered product.
Do not buy pesticides online from unknown sellers. Counterfeit products are illegal and a risk to you and the environment. Counterfeit may lack important information on the label. It is not easy to identify counterfeit products. These are typically presented in low quality labels and packaging materials.
When purchasing pesticides, and before every use, read the entire label so you can completely understand the product and the directions for use. Then follow the label directions exactly. If you have questions about product use, contact your local BASF representative on 1800 558 399.
O: On-Target Application and Responsible Use
When preparing to apply a pesticide, here are some things to consider to ensure that the product will work effectively, and that you use the product responsibly:
Read the label and use the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like gloves, dust mask, eye protection or long pants/sleeves. PPE requirements are put on the label because the APVMA has assessed the product and determined that, without the required PPE, use of the product could be hazardous to you. ALWAYS use the required PPE when using pesticide products.
You can further minimize your risk by understanding the potential ways of exposure to the pesticide including on the skin, in the eyes and through the mouth and lungs. These exposure pathways are listed on the product label.
Keep children and pets away from the application area during application and for any time after application as required by the product label. This includes removing children's and pet’s toys and their belongings — such as food, water, toys and bedding — from the area to be treated. Then, follow the product label for re-entry instructions before letting children and pets back into the treated area. Keep all pesticide containers (new or used) out of children's and pet’s reach at all times.
Always use the correct amount of the pesticide. Manufacturers have conducted extensive testing on application rates for pesticides to ensure that the pesticide will work as intended with the least amount of pesticide required. Using more than the recommended amount of a pesticide will not give you any better results, and could lead to undesired outcomes like surface staining, run-off of excess product, etc. It will also waste your time and money and may violate the law.
Additionally, if you’re using a concentrated pesticide, be sure to follow label directions for dilution rates. Just like with application rates, using too much concentrate or improperly diluting the product will not give you better results and will end up costing you more and may violate the law. Also, mix only the quantity you need for each application to reduce waste.
When you’re applying pesticides outdoors, take steps to prevent unintended environmental contamination. Never apply pesticides in breezy or windy conditions and be mindful of the direction of the wind when spraying. If possible, you can also use a heavier setting on the hose or sprayer to increase the droplet size of the product: heavier and larger droplets are less likely to be carried by the wind. You should also ensure that rain or water from an irrigation system will not move the pesticide application away from the treated area before it has dried. If the pesticide moves from the target area during application, stop the application and clean it up as directed on the label.
In the event of a pesticide spill, keep people and pets out of the area until the spill is completely cleaned up. The label will also give you information on cleaning up spills. Finally, it is good practice to ensure that every application area is well ventilated before using the pesticide, and that the product has completely settled or dried in accordance with the label instructions before allowing people or pets to re-enter the area.
In the event of a medical emergency, call your local poison control center or doctor for treatment advice. Have the product container or label with you when calling or going for treatment. You may also contact BASF Corporation for emergency medical treatment information: BASF Emergency Advice Number 1800 803 440.
For 24-hour emergency hazmat incident response support of large-scale chemical spills contact Police, Fire Brigade or dial 000.
P: Proper Waste Disposal
To maximize your safety and the safety of the environment, how you dispose of a pesticide is as important as how you apply it. Always follow your product’s label instructions on the proper disposal of unused pesticide.
DO NOT pour unused or waste pesticides:
- On areas or surfaces not listed on the product label
- Down a sink, toilet, storm drain, or sewer
- Near wells, ponds, rivers or lakes. This will help prevent contamination of groundwater and surface water
If your pesticide comes in concentrated form, you can reduce waste by mixing only the quantity of pesticide you need for each application. If you have extra material remaining – apply the product in additional areas according to label uses. Additionally, do not store excess mixed product in the sprayer or other container.
It’s not just the waste pesticide product itself that requires special handling. You should always handle empty pesticide containers according to the label. Importantly, never re-use or burn empty pesticide containers.
When cleaning pesticide application equipment, triple rinse handheld sprayers and other equipment at the treatment location site, so any residue stays within the application area.
BASF recommends that you contact your local waste collection facility to see if it accepts pesticide waste, left-over or obsolete product, and/or used pesticide containers. Also, remember to comply with all local country laws regarding pesticide handling and disposal.
E: Effective and Safe Storage
Just as with the other aspects of pesticide use, the label will give you all of the information you need on how to safely and effectively store the pesticide before and after use. Pesticides must be stored in their original container with an intact and legible product label, and containers must be securely closed when not in use.
BASF recommends that you follow these tips for responsible pesticide storage:
It is recommended to store pesticides in a locked cabinet or shed that is well-ventilated and safely protected from children, pets and food products.
The storage location should be protected against extreme heat or cold, direct sunlight, heat sources, open flames and flooding.
Store pesticides away from drains, wells and bodies of water where potential leaks could contaminate surface water and groundwater.
Periodically inspect containers for leaks or damage.
For extra precaution, store the original pesticide container in a drip pan, dish/tray with edges or other secondary container that can catch spills or leaks.
A few DO NOT's on pesticide storage:
- DO NOT store pesticides in non-original containers, and never in food or beverage containers.
- DO NOT store pesticides in cabinets with food or animal feed.
- If you use sprayers or other equipment for the pesticide application, DO NOT store the pesticide and water mixture in such equipment. Only mix what you need and properly dispose of any extra. Mixed pesticides do not have the same shelf life as the concentrated product.
- DO NOT stockpile pesticide products. Buy only the pesticide products you need today or within the next few days.
R: Resources
When using pesticides, remember that your greatest source of information is the label.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS.
You can quickly and easily find BASF product labels using the finder tool on our homepage
Finally, if you have questions about any BASF pesticide, we're always here to help.
Contact your local BASF representative on 1800 558 399.
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The information contained in this website is provided only as general information, which may be incomplete or outdated. The materials are presented without any representation or warranty whatsoever regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information.
BASF disclaims all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content on this webpage.