APPLYING PESTICIDES IN TENNESSEE
In Tennessee, if you apply pesticides for a fee, you must be licensed and chartered – even if you use non-restricted pesticides that you can buy at your local Lowes, Wal-Mart, etc. Either a category 3 certification or LHA certification will be required, proof of liability insurance of at least $300,000 and a certification number displayed in the applicator’s vehicle plus on any trailer used in the business.
The only exception to this is a Spot-Treatment Only – Lawn Maintenance certification; a Limited Herbicide Applicator certification category for those who only wish to spot-spray with glyphosate in ornamental beds or in areas in conjunction with hand-weeding or mechanical weed trimming.
A person operating under this special Limited Herbicide Applicator certification is not authorized to advertise the application of herbicides or any other pesticide application nor supervise the application of any pesticide by an uncertified person. To prepare for the Limited Herbicide Applicator exam, one must study the ‘Core’ Applying Pesticides Safely plus be able to read a pesticide label. For more information, contact the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
You do not have to be licensed and chartered to apply plain fertilizer, but you would need to be if you apply fertilizer impregnated with a herbicide or other pesticide (‘weed & feed’) due to the pesticide in the product.
Contact Information
Fruit and Vegetable Resources:
Visit the University of Tennessee’s Solutions Website:
Soil Testing:
For more information about soil testing, visit the website below or call our office at 931-684-5971.
Do you have an issue with a plant? Your lawn? An insect?
Bring a sample of your plant by our office and Matthew can take a look. He’ll diagnose the issue, explain what’s causing it, and give you practical suggestions for fixing the problem. He can also identify the nuisance insect and tell you the best way to get rid of it.
If you’re unable to stop by, you can email him some photos and he’ll take it from there.