Pesticides play an important role in our society. Whether they are solving a problem in the landscape or protecting the foods that go on our tables, pesticides are pivotal to our everyday lives. I know, I know; the organic “foodies” are saying that they don’t use chemicals and don’t eat foods with chemicals on them. But I beg to differ.

Organic food production still allows for the use of pesticides, it simply restricts which ones can be used. While the products may be a more natural approach, one must keep in mind that they are utilized to kill things and should never be considered “safe” because they are organic or natural. These can be just as harmful as synthetic products if not handled properly.

If anyone has ever been caught up in the middle of a horticultural mission to stop a pest in the landscape, it is easy to understand how proper pesticide storage can slip the mind. The only thing that matters at that moment is stopping the bug that has been such a nuisance to the gardener and his plants.

The gardener races to the store to purchase the size of pesticide container that equates to the level of frustration he is feeling at the moment — the higher the irritation the bigger the jug. Then once back in the garage, the label is glanced over speedily and incompletely. Double the recommended amount is poured into the sprayer and away he goes, off to battle! In the meantime the oversized jug of concentrated bug killer is left somewhere on a random shelf in the garage, only to be forgotten about until the irritating insect raises its ugly head once again.

While pesticides do have a place in the landscape, it is equally important that they have a safe storage place in the garage or shed. There are a few tips that cannot only improve the safety in your garage, but also the effectiveness of the product can be preserved as well.

Only purchase the amount of product that you plan to use for a specific job or in a growing season. Even though that 2 gallon jug of weed-killer may be cheaper by the ounce than the quart size, try and resist the urge to buy bulk in this area of your life. Depending on the type of storage that you can provide for the product, the efficacy may go down over time and the money go to waste.

Always read the label to fully understand the optimum way to store a product if it was not used up completely. A variety of products can have specific storage requirements, so don’t assume that they can all be treated equally. Most will prefer to avoid extreme heat and freezing. The chemical and the container in which it is purchased must be maintained in good condition. This is necessary to ensure that the material remains useful and to avoid environmental or human health hazards.

Designating a specific location to keep all pesticides (herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides) is ideal. The best-case scenario is a cabinet that can be locked to keep children and pets from gaining access. The location also should be such that it is unlikely to come in contact with water. Keeping bagged products, like fertilizers, up off of the floor allows for ventilation underneath them to keep them dry.

If a couple of shelves are available, use the top one for dry products and the lower one for liquids. This prevents the liquids from contaminating the others in case of a leak. Another trick is to keep the liquid bottles inside a plastic storage container that could protect a spill from going onto the floor of the garage or shed.

If a liquid spill ever does occur it is important to have some absorbent product on hand to prevent contamination. Kitty-litter or sawdust are both good at doing the trick. Allow these to absorb the material and then transfer it into another spill-proof container. To be sure about proper disposal of the absorbent material contact the chemical company. There always will be a phone number on the container.

Writing the date of purchase on the container is a great way to make certain that the oldest products are used up first. Always keep the pesticides in their original containers. And especially do not ever transfer them into a container that even remotely resembles a food or beverage container.

To get even more tips about proper pesticide storage, call the Oklahoma County OSU Master Gardeners at 713-1125. There is an abundance of information available to help keep you, your family, your pets and the environment safe.

SAMANTHA SNYDER is a horticulture educator for the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Cooperative Service.