Lawn and Garden

Pests come in a variety of forms: weeds, insects, animals, molds, and fungi to name a few. The need to control outdoor pests varies. Having some weeds in your garden or some grubs in your lawn may be tolerable. However, certain pests present serious threats in some years. Some pests can damage human and animal health, such as mosquitoes that carry diseases. Pesticides provide relief from many pests, but they are not the only solution to pest problems. 

• Environmentally friendly practices
• Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood
• Using pesticides safely
• Additional tips on reducing runoff

Environmentally Friendly Practices

The most effective strategy for controlling pests may be to combine methods in an approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In IPM, information about pests and available pest control methods is used to manage pest damage with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

Tip: Check with your state or county Cooperative Extension Service to determine what grass varieties and pest management methods are suitable for your climate and growing conditions. Grass varieties and pests vary widely across the United States. Lawncare professionals may also be able to provide you with information.

Videos

Interested in learning more about healthy, environmentally friendly lawn and landscape practices? You can reduce erosion, stream sedimentation, flooding, runoff of pollutants into local waterways, and the risk of pesticide exposure to children, adults, pets, and wildlife. The following videos show lawn care practices that will reduce pesticide and nutrient risks to human health and the environment.

The following links exit the site

Additional lawn care topic specific videos on mowing, watering, weed and pest control, fertilizing, soil testing, soil aeration and run-off control. 

Brochures

• GreenScaping - The Easy Way to a Greener Healthier Yard - information on the landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of your lawn and garden while protecting and preserving natural resources.
• "Greenscaping" Your Lawn and Garden.
• Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment: Caring for Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly Way  - includes tips on working with nature to grow a health lawn while minimizing the use of pesticides.

Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Wood

CCA, also known as Wolmanized wood, has been used to prevent wood decay in items such as decks, fences and playground equipment. New construction should not be using CCA-treated wood, based on the voluntary cancellation of this use.

• Consumer Safety Information Sheet - Inorganic Arsenical Pressure-Treated Wood - information on the safer use, handling and disposal of CCA-treated wood.
• CCA Pressure-Treated Wood: Guidance for Outdoor Wooden Structures (PDF)(2 pp, 629.89 K, About PDF)
• Additional information on CCA regulation.

Using Pesticides Safely

• Citizen's Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety
• Read the Label First: Protect Your Garden
• Read the Label First: Protect Your Kids
• Read the Label First: Protect Your Household
• Why Read Labels

To order printed versions of these publications online, contact National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP), 1-800-490-9198, fax: 301-604-3408.

Additional Tips on Reducing Runoff

The following links provide information that can help you conserve water and reduce runoff from your property that might contain pesticides or fertilizer if you use these products:

• What You Can Do: In Your Yard - Lawn and garden care tips to reduce runoff and nutrient pollution from your yard.
• What You Can Do: In Your Home - Advice for implementing environmentally sound practices in and around your home. These practices will help to eliminate water pollution that is generated by many households.
• Urban Waters - Learn about runoff and other urban water issues affecting your community, what other communities are doing to protect their local waterways, and how you can help be apart of the solution to urban waters pollution.
• Publications - on water conservation and pollution prevention This page provides publications for EPA’s nonpoint source pollution prevention program. These publications establish guidelines for water use in your household to decrease water consumption and protect the environment.
• Landscape Irrigation Services - A list of landscape irrigation professionals who partner with EPA’s WaterSense Program. These irrigation professionals can help you reduce water consumption, save money and maintain a healthy and beautiful landscape.