FAQ's

General

Fungicides

• I have heard a lot about root rot and root diseases. How do I know if my plants are affected and how do I prevent these diseases?

  Root rot can be easily identified by its dark appearance and slimy textured root system. As we see the plant above the root zone, you’ll first notice an overall unhealthy look about your plant. The leaves will then start wilting (appear soggy) and start developing dry, brown blotchy spots.

  Root rot is a common waterborne disease that can seriously affect indoor and outdoor plants year-round. ‘Pythium’ is a generic term for several different root rot and stem rot fungus species (including Pythium, Verticillium, and Phytophthora, and Fusarium). Root rot is also known as ‘damping-off’ in seedlings. Control soil borne diseases with Efekto Virikop at 1.5 ℓ mixture per m2.

• My roses have developed brown and yellow spots on the leaves. How do I treat this?

  This is caused by the fungus called rust – the treatment would be Efekto Rosecare 3. Rust is regularly confused with Black Spot which also occurs commonly on roses.

  Visit our Problem Solver page to ensure you identify the correct fungus and fight it off with our selection of products, ensuring a healthy plant.

• What is the difference between Kumulus and Funginex?

  Efekto Funginexis a systemic product that draws into the plant tissue, protecting it from the inside out.

  Efekto Kumulus is a protective and curative fungicide with an added wetting agent. We are limited to how we package our products according to the registration requirements of Act 36 of 1947. It also depends on the composition and formulation of the product, as some products are not compatible in sachets.

• How can I control tomato blight?

  You can use Efekto Virikop for the control of Blight. Pour 50 g Efekto Virikop in 10 l water, applied every 7 – 10 days. The withholding period will be 3 days from the last application to harvest.

Herbicides

• I have recently had invasive trees felled. New growth appears to be sprouting from the stump, how do I get rid of this?

  The use of Efekto Axe-T would help to stop the green regrowth of the tree.

• Herbicides often refer to ‘broadleaf weeds’ - what are these?

  The dandelions, clover and sorrel is probably the best example of a broadleaf weed. The leaves are broader, as opposed to the narrower leaf of a grass plant.

• What is a 'selective' and 'non-selective' herbicide?

  Selective herbicides are used in lawn care or around nursery or garden plants once weeds emerge. A selective herbicide is used to kill weeds but does not kill the valuable plant.

  Non-selective herbicides are the herbicide of choice for people who want to kill all vegetation in an area. These types of herbicides are generally used in building projects, near fences, driveways and within industrial complexes.

• Do you have a weed killer for vegetables?

  Unfortunately, no weed killer can be used in a vegetable garden, for the control of weeds, hand weeding is recommended.

• Do you have a weedkiller for a specific kind of grass?

  You will not get a weedkiller that will only target one type of grass and not kill off the other. Buffalo grass is sensitive to 2,4 D, which is inside Efekto Turfweeder APM

• What is the best overall weedkiller?

  Efekto Turfweeder APM will be the best for broadleaf weeds overall use. If you need to control grasses that are in paved areas you can use Efekto Clear Up, this will control broadleaf weeds and grasses.

• Where can I use weedkillers?

  All our weedkillers are made for either lawns or paved areas.

• What can I use on buffalo grass?

  Efekto Banweed MCPA will be the only solution to use on buffalo grass. Use fertilisers 2 to 3 weeks before the application of a weedkiller with Wonder Lawn and Leaf. Follow the precautions and directions on the label of the products.

• How do I apply Turfweeder?

  Efekto Turfweeder APM will control weeds in the lawn. Use 50 -70 ml water over an area greater than 100 square meters. The recommendation is to fertilise the lawn 2 to 3 weeks prior when applying a weedkiller with a high nitrogen fertiliser like Wonder Deep Green or Wonder Lawn and Leaf. Keep all pets and children off the area while applying, once the spray mixture has dried they can re-enter the area.

Insecticides

• What is the difference between a contact, systemic and translaminar insecticide?

  Contact insecticides generally control a pest as a result of direct contact. In practice, contact insecticides must be applied with good coverage of spray droplets in order to make contact with the target.

  Systemically-acting insecticides are taken up by plants relatively quickly via the roots or above-ground parts and are then transported and re-distributed within the vascular system. They can also move between cells by diffusion.

  Translaminar insecticides with only local systemic activity must arrive directly where the pest is located, or they must be distributed very evenly over the plant surfaces from which the pest is likely to take them up.

• My conifers are turning brown and appear to be dying. What is the problem and what can I do?

  Each year from March-August, the Cypress Aphid infects conifers and the damage is only visible in spring. Use Efekto Plant Protector, Efekto Aphicide Plus or Efekto Insecticide Granules Plus.

• Will Karbaspray harm my pet?

  Please keep all pets and children off the area while applying Efekto Karbaspray. Children and pets can re-enter the area once the spray mixture has dried completely.

• Do you have any insecticides for herbs?

  Unfortunately, we do not have any registered Insecticide for herbs.

• How do I get rid of Christmas beetles?

  You can use Efekto Karbaspray or Efekto Garden Gun RTU to control Chafer beetles especially if they are eating the leaves as well. For direct spraying on the beetles, Efekto Garden Gun is advised.

• Can you use Garden Ripcord on lettuce?

  Unfortunately, the product is not registered for lettuce. 

• What can I use for locusts?

  Efekto Karbaspray can be used — mix 15g in 10L water. Use a 10L spray mixture per 10 square meters. Commence spraying when pests are noticed.

• Is it safe to use Efekto Garden Ripcord indoors?

  Unfortunately, the product Efekto Garden Ripcord is only registered for outdoor use on vegetables, fruit trees and lawns. To control indoor insects, we suggest using Efekto Fendona 6 SC or Efekto No Insect Indoors SC to control most indoor insects.

• What is the difference between Aphicide Suspension Concentrate and Aphicide Plus?

  Efekto Aphicideis designed purely for treating aphids and listed pests on edibles and garden plants (flowering plants, ornamental shrubs, trees, vegetable, fruit and fresh produce).

  Efekto Aphicide Plus is for use in the home garden to control sucking insects, as indicated on the label, on conifers, roses and other garden plants.

• I recently purchased an organic insecticide. The leaflet refers to a ‘shorter withholding period’. What does this mean?

  The withholding period (WHP) is the period that must elapse between the last application of a pesticide and harvesting.

Natural Protection

• I recently purchased an organic insecticide. The leaflet refers to a ‘shorter withholding period’. What does this mean?

  The withholding period (WHP) is the period that must elapse between the last application of a pesticide and harvesting.

• Are organic fertilisers and pesticides as effective as conventional ones?

  Yes, they are. The only difference is that they are formulated from natural sources.

• Are natural pesticides still poisonous?

  Yes, they are. The product was designed to kill a specific pest. The only difference is that a natural pesticide is less persistent in the environment and it breaks down quicker.

• What makes a product ‘qualify’ to be sold as an organic or natural product and is there a difference between these two terms?

  Organic in scientific terms means a molecule that consists mainly of a carbon skeleton with other elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus and a few others as contributing building blocks. The majority of modern pesticide molecules are organic and fit in 100% with the scientific classification of organic.

  Natural products are developed without mineral ingredients or additives.

Rodenticides

• We have a severe rat infestation. How do I get rid of rats permanently?

  The best solution would be to look out for any open areas where the rats could be entering and seal the areas. Using bait such as Efekto Zero Rat paired with a bait station will help eradicate the rats.

  *Bait must be used with a bait station.

• What is the difference between a single-dose and a multiple-dose application?

  Single-dose anticoagulants are more toxic because they bind more tightly to the enzyme that makes blood clotting agents.

  Multi-dose anticoagulants are not easily excreted from the body, and they can be stored in body fat.

• Do you have mole repellent?

  Yes, we do — view more information.