We currently have many Pesticide 
Operators/Applicators at Heads Up. We have the knowledge to identify pests and diseases afflicting your plants and to take the proper steps to restore health. We can create a customized plant health care program specifically for your commercial or residential property.
Here are some FAQs about our Heads Up Spray program:
Q: Are the chemicals you use safe?
A: All the products we use have been issued an EPA # (Environmental Protection Agency), and have been registered with the NMDA (New Mexico Department of Agriculture) for use in New Mexico in accordance with the label. By Law we follow all the guidelines for protection and use listed on the product labels.
An LD50 chart with common household chemicals and other herbicides we use on a regular basis is used for rating the relative toxicity of chemicals. The lower the LD50 rating the MORE toxic it is.
Q: Your products have such a strong smell. Why don’t your guys use respirators?
A: By law we follow the minimum requirements for protection listed on the label. If our employees want additional protection it is up to them. (A note on respirators: None of the products we use require the use of a respirator. If we were to require them, then each person would have to be fit-tested for a respirator to qualify as a respirator. This includes the dust masks our employees use.)
Q: How soon can my pets and I go near an area that has been sprayed?
A: None of the products we use have a Restricted Entry Interval. Once the product is dry, it is safe to go on your lawn. If your pets like to eat rocks or grass, then it is best to wait 48 hours until you let them go on the rocks, or until the sprinklers have run before they can use the grass.
Q: Your chemical made my rocks Orange (or Blue) and some if it got on my driveway. Can you take care of this?
A: The color you see is a dye that is added to the product to help our guys track where they have been so they don’t over apply to an area. The dye is photo-degradable and will break down in the sunlight. The color should be gone within a week.
Q: What licenses do you have to spray those products?
A: All of our employees using chemicals are Licensed Operator/Technicians under our Certified Applicator on File with the state. Our Certified Applicator on file with the state is Frank Montoya.
Q: I want something that will stop all my weeds from growing, what can you do for me?
A: There is no product that will guarantee 100% control of weeds. Under ideal conditions (soil temperature, moisture, wind etc…) we will have a 70% effective rate. So for every 100 weed seeds that drop 30% will still germinate in ideal conditions. For post-emergent control we use a product with the same active ingredient as Round Up. It kills all the weeds it touches. If weeds haven’t germinated yet, Round Up will not do anything.
Q: You guys sprayed my gravel but I am still getting a lot of weeds?
A: An IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program requires years of control methods, product pre-emergent and post-emergent, mechanical, and environmental control methods. One pre-emergent spray will help with weed suppression but is not enough to eradicate it.
