Foggers

Garden maintenance is a never-ending task, with each season coming with new sets of outdoor projects and gardening chores. Perhaps the biggest and most challenging undertaking for many gardeners is protecting the garden from its destructive attackers. For a gardener, it can be quite an effort to ward-off these aggressors, considering that they’re quite tiny and rather large in number.

Take for instance the many insects that invade the garden. Although not all insects are “pests”, as some can be “beneficial insects”, most damage plants and flowers by feeding on them through boring, sucking, or chewing. Thus, when the need arises, some gardeners resort to more drastic measures like using insecticidal sprays, chemical pest control, fogging, and other methods that effectively eliminate garden pests.

Foggers

The use of foggers is an option some gardeners take. Insecticide fogs may be created through utilizing electric foggers, propane foggers, or using pyrethrin aerosols. Outdoor foggers usually target bugs, insects, and other destructive pests in the garden. A fogger creates a mist or fog containing the insecticide intended for the type of pest that’s ruining the garden.

Fogging for different garden pests is often the option when the need for a fast method of reducing pest population arises. This insect fogger approach of pest control is generally considered “temporary” yet sometimes necessary. Outdoor fogging requires various application methods and different “insecticide fogging solutions”. There are several types of foggers, including thermal fogger, cold fogger, and total release fogger.

Thermal Fogger

Thermal foggers utilize heat in creating and dispersing the “insecticide mist”. The mist looks like smoke as it releases from the device. They’re usually considered unsafe to use indoors, but are quite popular for outdoor purposes such as gardens. Thermal foggers can be propane or electric driven fog devices. When choosing the type of material for the thermal fogger, check and ensure that the device is labeled for the particular type of fogging as not all insecticides can be utilized for thermal foggers.

Cold Fogger

Cold foggers are devices that create insecticide mist without using heat. The method is cleaner compared to thermal foggers, and may be used for both outdoor and indoor applications. Cold fogging may be performed with standard foggers or with “ultra low volume device” or ULV fogger. ULV units may be adjusted to different sizes for droplets. Larger droplets are advisable for outdoor pests, while smaller droplets are good for indoor pests. Various products may be utilized in cold foggers.

Total Release Foggers

Total release foggers are often used in greenhouses, vegetable and fruit storage places, as well as indoor gardening places. They may be used for all vegetable plants, growing plants, flower, vegetables and fruits, and ornamental plants. It can also be used for to control spider mites, fungus gnats, aphids, mealy bugs, whiteflies, thrips, and scale.

The active ingredient of some total release foggers is “natural pyrethrum”, taken from “chrysanthemum flowers”, which breaks down in few hours after being applied. These types of total release foggers are generally safe to use, yet effectively eliminates pests. Some types even have a “pH balance formula” and have no attars or perfumes.

Fogger Safety

When using foggers with insecticides, it is very important to use safety gears such as goggles, gloves, respirators, and others. It is also essential to carefully read and follow all instructions on labels for fogger application. Additionally, fogging at the right time and condition is very crucial –usually during early mornings when the wind is low. Use products that are specifically labeled for the site and pest.

Foggers can be effective options for garden pest control, but should be properly and cautiously used. When applied in the right way and in correct amounts, they can quickly rid the garden of destructive pests.