The RHS believes that avoiding pests, diseases and weeds by good practice in cultivation methods,

Gardeners often use the word variety when referring to a specific plant, but the correct botanical term is 'cultivar'. Whichever word you use, it means a distinctive plant or plants, given a specific cultivar name and usually bred to enhance certain characteristics, such as flower or fruit size, colour, flavour or fragrance, plant size, hardiness, disease resistance, etc. Additionally, it is worth knowing that, botanically, variety has another meaning - it refers to a naturally-occurring distinct plant that only has slight differences in its looks. For example, Malva alcea var. fastigiata differs from typical plants by having an upright habit.

Regular cleaning and tidying not only keeps a garden looking neat, but can reduce pests and diseases too. Beneficial jobs include collecting fallen leaves, promptly removing diseased growth and debris, cleaning tools, and weeding. Still, too much tidying can discourage wildlife, so it’s a fine balance.

garden hygiene

Beneficial insects and bugs

Beneficial insects and bugs

Controlling pests and diseases without chemicals

Controlling pests and diseases without chemicals

Non-chemical weed control

Non-chemical weed control

Chemical labels explained

Chemical labels explained

Using chemicals in gardens

Using chemicals in gardens

Withdrawn chemicals

Withdrawn chemicals

• Always keep chemicals in their original containers with the tops firmly closed. It is illegal to transfer pesticides into other storage containers. Product labels display vital information regarding active ingredients, approved uses, registration (MAPP) numbers, methods of application and dosage rates. This information is also crucial to the emergency services should any accidents occur. 
• Store chemicals in a cool, dry, frost-free place out of direct sunlight.     If kept in sunny positions liquids may vaporise and product labels can quickly fade.   
• Keep chemicals out of reach of children. Preferably, store pesticides in a locked container so children, vulnerable adults, pets and wildlife can’t access them.   
• Store powders, granules and dusts above liquids, as this eliminates the chance of liquid leaking onto soluble materials, resulting in possible chemical reactions. 
• Don’t store solutions you have made up from concentrates. Concentrates and ready-to-use sprays will generally store for two years or more if kept in cool, dark conditions. However, when gardeners make up a solution by diluting a concentrate, this should not be stored, as it will quickly lose effectiveness and will not be in the original container.  
• Store pesticides separately from fertilisers and other garden materials to avoid inadvertent contamination. 
• Check the label on any pesticide products you have stored to find the active ingredient and make sure they are still approved for use. Refer to the Health and Safety Executive website and the RHS guide to withdrawn chemicals for information on approved pesticides.

The active ingredient of a pesticide product can be found on the label  

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Weedkillers are available in different sizes and formulations  

The need to dispose of garden chemicals can be greatly reduced if you only buy small amounts. Buying a ready-to-use formulation, rather than a concentrate, avoids the risk of making up too much solution that you then need to dispose of. If making up a solution from concentrate, carefully calculate how much you need, so you don’t end up with excess that you need to get rid of. If you need to dispose of garden chemicals, follow these guidelines: 

Disposing of excess solution after spraying 

• Spray excess solution on areas or plants listed on the label if you have overestimated how much solution was needed when diluting a concentrate and ended up with a small amount left over. Excess solution should never be poured down the drain or onto bare soil, as this causes groundwater pollution. It is better to make up less solution than too much, as it is far easier to mix up more than it is to find additional areas or plants to apply excess spray to.  
• After spraying, rinse your sprayer with three washes of a small amount of water, and spray this diluted solution onto areas or plants listed on the label.

Disposing of empty containers 

• Read the label on a pesticide product for information on how the container/packaging should be disposed of.  
• Recycle empty plastic containers through kerbside waste collection.

Disposing of surplus and withdrawn chemicals 

• Locate your nearest local authority chemical disposal facility by using the Common Sense Gardening Group website.   
• Contact your local authority’s waste disposal department or check their website for further information about disposing of surplus or withdrawn pesticides, or if you come across old pesticides or unlabelled containers (in an old shed in a newly purchased property, for example).  
• Ensure that containers are securely sealed when transporting pesticides to a waste disposal facility. Do not mix different chemicals. 
• Never dispose of pesticides down drains or in watercourses. Flushing pesticides down toilets or drains, applying weedkillers to hard surfaces where run off might enter drains, and pouring pesticides onto bare soil, can pollute water and harm wildlife.