Lawn and Residential Landscape Pest Control Exam Prep

Instructor: Sarah Racine

This course explores the intricacies of lawn and residential landscape pest control, providing participants with essential knowledge and skills for performing responsible pesticide management. It addresses critical regulations set by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and other governing bodies, ensuring participants' strict compliance with legal requirements. Participants will acquire an understanding of the complexities surrounding pesticide use, encompassing safe handling, storage, transportation, and the associated risks. They will also learn to differentiate between pest-induced plant damage and non-living factors, empowering them to make well-informed decisions.

Moreover, this course examines the impact of landscape management practices on plant health, with a strong emphasis on injury prevention. Participants will actively explore the selection and application of various pesticide formulations while actively acknowledging the inherent dangers.

Finally, participants will identify common pests in lawns and landscapes, both vertebrate and invertebrate, and study tailored management strategies. Valuable resources, including pesticide labels, Safety Data Sheets, and manufacturer instructions, will be discussed throughout the program to enhance participants' understanding of responsible pesticide handling practices.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

• Explain the essential rules and regulations set by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) and other regulatory agencies for pesticide use for lawns and landscapes.
• Describe the importance of safe storage, transportation, and disposal of pesticides.
• Distinguish between signs of damage caused by pests and abiotic (non-living) factors, understanding the importance of accurate identification to make informed management decisions.
• Describe how certain landscape management practices, such as irrigation, pruning, fertilization, and pesticide use, can inadvertently cause plant injury.
• Select and properly apply various types of pesticide formulations.
• Identify common vertebrate and invertebrate pests and outline the best management strategy for each.
• Understand the importance of selecting the appropriate pesticide for a specific pest control task and acknowledge the inherent dangers associated with pesticide use.
• Identify available resources for acquiring essential information about pesticides, including pesticide labels, Safety Data Sheets, and manufacturer instructions.