![A plant nursery worker sprays a mature tree with an insecticide machine.](https://awm.sbcounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/84/2022/04/AWM-Pesticide-Use-Nursery-Spray-1024x683.png?x79140)
What are Pesticides?
Pesticide products contain both “active” and “inert” ingredients.
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for
- Preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.
- Use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.
- Use as a nitrogen stabilizer
- An “active ingredient” prevents, destroys, repels, or mitigates a pest, or is a plant regulator, defoliant, desiccant, or nitrogen stabilizer.
- All other ingredients are called “inert ingredients” by federal law. They are important for product performance and usability.