by Mary Stephens

Created on: February 04, 2010

Pesticides are often used to eliminate weeds because they are the easiest way to protect crops from being overgrown by them. Generally, pesticides are chemicals formulated to kill pests, such as insects, fungi and viruses, mammals, fish, or birds that invade and destroy someones property, or spread infectious diseases. Weeds are also in this group. Many farmers use pesticides because the large size of their crops enables them to pull weeds by hand. It may be justified to a certain degree, but when someone uses pesticides in their garden patch, that's laziness.

Pesticides should not be taken lightly. It says right on the package to use rubber gloves and/or face mask to protect yourself form contact with the chemicals. Clearly, they are poisonous and hazardous to your health. Then, what makes you think that vegetables from your garden will be safe to eat after you spray them? What if your children pick flowers that have been sprayed and get the chemical into their eyes or mouth? What is your pets goes to munch on some of your plants? After applying chemicals in your garden, you have to be very diligent to keep everyone away from it. But is it worth it? Do you really want to forbid everyone, including yourself, to enjoy the garden? Your garden may become beautiful when no one touches it, but what is the pleasure of it? Is your garden only for showing it off to visitors?

Another problem with pesticides is that they are usually toxic to insects and other animals that are beneficial and desirable in your garden. For example, bees that pollinate your tomatoes also sit on weeds to draw nectar from their flowers. Killing bees with pesticides will have a major impact on environment, not to mention your tomatoes. When you set up a bird feeder to attract birds to the garden, they are sure to come, but they also may feed on bees and other insects that you are trying to eliminate. In result, you are poisoning the birds, as well.

Pesticides soak into the ground and eventually pollute ground water. High accumulation of pesticides in ground water will make it toxic to everyone, animals and humans alike.

Weeds are tough plants to begin with. It is not unusual for many of them to become resistant to certain pesticides. They become even tougher and you will have to use stronger chemicals. So, instead of pulling a weak plant, you've created a monster.

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