Landbou-insette

Landbou-insette buying guide

Veldkraft lists 195 landbou-insette, priced from R12 to R11 563, from brands including Protek, Roundup, OSAM, Turfmaster. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Find the right input for the job

Name the weed, pest or nutrient problem first, then find the product registered for it. If you need a weed killer, start in Herbicides; it and Pesticides are the largest groups. Fertilisers covers crop and garden nutrition, Fungicides covers fungal diseases, and Materials and Fabrics includes mulch film, alongside a small Seeds range. Brands include Protek, Roundup, UPL, Springbok and Guanoboost. Each crop protection label carries its Act 36 registration number.

Selective or non-selective weed killer?

A selective herbicide targets certain weeds and spares the crop or lawn; a non-selective one kills any green plant it touches. Protek Pure Lawn and Protek Versus 457,5 SL are selective broadleaf herbicides, and their labels list the grasses and crops they are registered for. Roundup Powermax, Protek Glyphosate 360 SL, Protek Clear All and Springbok 360 SL are non-selective and systemic, moving through the plant to the roots. Use those on paths, fence lines and before planting.

Compare by active ingredient and pack size

Compare herbicides by active ingredient and concentration, not by brand or bottle price. The label gives both, along with the registered uses. Products with the same active at the same strength usually work alike, so compare the price per litre of concentrate. Drums of 5L and 20L suit farms, while 1L bottles suit gardens. Granular industrial herbicides are for the non-crop and industrial sites named on their labels.

Match the pest control to the pest

Identify the pest first, because insecticides, baits and fumigants work differently. Protek Sipermetrien is a multi-purpose insecticide, Protek Roach Gel bait syringes treat cockroaches and ants, and Protek Nuvan Profi foggers fumigate enclosed spaces. Ready-to-use grain bait rodenticides control rats and mice, and fly baits control flies. Place baits where children, pets, livestock and wildlife can't reach them, and use each product only where its label allows.

Choose fertiliser from a soil test

A soil test shows which nutrients are short, and the N:P:K figures on the bag show what a fertiliser supplies. Phosphate fertilisers, such as Protek Garden Phosphate 8.3%, support root growth at planting. Organic-based products, like Protek Nutri-Green Flower Power, add carbon and help soil structure. Guanoboost is another fertiliser brand in the range. Apply at the rate on the bag, water in if the label says so, and store bags dry and off the floor.

Read the label before you spray

The label tells you exactly how a product may be used. Check the Act 36 registration number, the crops or sites it is registered for, the target weeds or pests, and the protective equipment required. Wear what the label lists, mix away from water sources, and don't spray in wind that carries drift. Store chemicals locked away in their original containers, apart from food and feed, and dispose of empties as the label directs.

Landbou-insette: common questions

How much do weed killers cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 195 agricultural inputs, from insect baits and garden fertiliser to weed killers, mulch film and bulk herbicide drums, priced from R12 to R11 563. Price depends on the active ingredient, its concentration, the formulation and the pack size. Bigger drums usually cost less per litre, so compare price per litre of concentrate.

Which weed killer kills everything?

A non-selective herbicide kills any green plant it contacts. Systemic non-selective products, such as Roundup and Protek Glyphosate 360 SL, move from the leaves to the roots, so treated plants die back over the following days to weeks. Use them only where you want no plants, keep drift off lawns and crops, and follow the label.

How do I kill weeds in my lawn without killing the grass?

Use a selective broadleaf herbicide registered for lawns, such as Protek Pure Lawn Selective Broadleaf Weed Herbicide. It targets broadleaf weeds and leaves the grass largely unharmed when used as the label directs. It won't control grassy weeds, and some lawn grasses are sensitive, so check the label for the grass types it is registered on.

What is an Act 36 registration number?

It is the number given to a fertiliser, farm feed, agricultural remedy or stock remedy registered under South Africa's Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 36 of 1947. It appears on the label and shows the product is registered for the uses listed there. Use the product only for those uses and as directed.

What is anti-evaporation mulch film used for?

Mulch film covers the soil around plants to cut water loss from evaporation, steady soil temperature and suppress weeds. The OSAM Anti Evap Mulch is an 85 GSM film in 0.3m by 100m rolls, suited to rows of vegetables and young plants. Lay it on moist soil, pin the edges down and cut openings for each plant.

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