Pesticides: Controlling Pests

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

The most effective strategy for controlling pests may be to combine methods in an approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that emphasizes preventing pest damage. 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 U.S. Lawncare professionals may also be able to provide you with information.

Environmentally Friendly Practices

• Green Scaping - The Easy Way to a Greener Healthier Yard brochure (16 pp, 2.0 MB, About PDF) - 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 (8 pp, 958k, About PDF).
• Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment: Caring for Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly Way (19 pp, 5.4 MB, About PDF) - 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, is used to prevent wood decay in itemes such as decks, fences and playground equipment.

• Consumer Saftey Information Sheet - Inorganic Arsenical Pressure-Treated Wood - information on the safer use and handling of CCA-treated wood.
• Use and Disposal of CCA-Treated Wood.

Using pesticides Safely

• Several publications about safe pesticides use.

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