More central Oregonians are rolling up their sleeves to dig into their gardens and cleaning up yards now that spring is here.

Sometimes - that includes using pesticides to rid plants and grass of creatures that emerge with warmer weather.

Sunny Jones with the Oregon Department of Agriculture says they are ramping up education about the proper use of pesticides - and it can only take three words...

"Read the label. Read those instructions. And just as importantly, actually follow the instructions on the label. You are going to save yourself a lot of headaches in the long run if you can follow those two steps."

Jones says the label tells you not only what the pesticide takes care of - but gives you special precautions and helps you understand if its the right one to use.

She adds that to follow the instructions for storage and disposal as well.