This past season, I tried my hand at growing my own tomatoes.  I took a shortcut at the start of the season by buying starter plants, rather than planting from seeds.  Well, the starter plants came with a bonus - a whole bunch of little white bugs.  I don't really know what they are - some kind of aphid or fly, I would guess - but as the plants grew, so did the pests' numbers.  Any time I would shake the plant, a whole bunch of these pesky white bugs would swarm around.

I also grow pineapples, and noticed that my pineapple plants provided homes for little tiny spiders, which would spin their webs from stalk to stalk.  Preferring my plants to be bug-free, but not having a clue as to what kind of bugs I had, I set out to find a general bug killer that would hopefully take care of all of my pests, but leave my fruits unharmed. 

I chose the Sevin-5 product for a few reasons.  It states that it kills over 65 different insects.  With that many, I figure the odds were pretty good that it would work on my mystery bugs.  It also states quite clearly that this product can be used on vegetables, fruits, ornamentals, and lawns.  I figure that's a pretty diverse number of uses.  Finally, this product was really cheap... just a few bucks for 1.5 pounds, in a convenient shaker can.

I also liked that there were clear directions on the back, written into a large grid based upon the type of plant, and type of pest.  Since I didn't know what type of pest, I simply found my plants listed, and went with the smallest dosage listed. 

But simply stated, all you really have to do is shake some of this stuff onto the leaves of your plants.  That's it.  Obviously, it's best to do it on a day when the air is calm, and not just prior to a rainstorm.  Follow all standard safety precautions - there are tons of them listed on the can - but I find common sense works for me.  I try very hard not to breathe this stuff in, and wash it off my skin right away.  I also keep Kitty away for a day or two after applying.  You could wear gloves and a mask, if you want extra precaution, but I don't bother.

On the tomato plants, it took a few days after the first application before I noticed a difference.  And then, sure enough, I found fewer bugs would fly around when I shook the tomato plants.  Once a week or so, I'd apply more dust, and after a few weeks, the bugs were completely eliminated.  The pineapple plants fared even better - the little spiders were completely gone after the first application.  Since then, I've reapplied this stuff once a month or so, and the plants remain spider-free.

So what is this stuff?  5% Carbaryl (1-napthyl N-methylcarbamate) and 95% inert ingredients. 

There's a small odor, but nothing I find bothersome or heavy.  The most difficult part of the whole process is popping the cap off the top of the can!  Overall, this product meets my needs perfectly.  It's inexpensive, simple to use, and very effective. 

One final note:  I've seen other reviewers talk about using this product on their pets, for flea and tick control.  But nowhere on this can's label does it talk about being safe for pets.  Curious, I checked their website and this is what they have to say:

Sevin should not be used on animals. More pet friendly products are available at pet stores or contact your veterinarian. The old 5% labels state usage on animals, which are no longer for sale

In other words, their older products were considered safe on pets, but that is no longer the case. So, don't use on pets!!

Recommended: Yes