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Learn about Integrated Pest Management for a healthy lawn. Photo: Holly Payne

 

Grow a lush lawn that wards off pests without relying on chemicals - it's healthier for your family and the waters we depend on.

Twenty to thirty million acres of lawn in the U.S. make lawns the 5th biggest crop in the nation behind corn, soy, wheat and hay. A scant 10-20% of lawn owners use soil tests prior to applying fertilizer. As a result, more than half of lawns are over-fertilized. On average, acre for acre, homeowners use ten times more chemical fertilizers and pesticides than farmers. If applied improperly, fertilizers and pesticides can find their way into surface and ground water.You can have a green lawn while protecting water quality by following Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This fancy term is an organized way of growing healthy plants and using the least toxic techniques to manage pests. The key to IPM is creating a healthy lawn because healthy grass has a far better chance of fending off pests. Although it requires a bit more patience, over the long run IPM has proven to be effective and beneficial to humans and the environment.

I pledge to...		I will do this:	I'm already doing this:
	Test my soil for pH and nutrients before planting new grass or applying fertilizers.
	Water in the morning when evaporation losses are low, no more than 1 inch of water per week, or not at all if rain has fallen.
	Set my lawn mower to trim grass to a 3-inch height or higher, because mowing higher builds more resilient root systems.
	Fertilize only when necessary, using appropriate fertilizers based on soil nutrient test results.
	Determine if I really have a pest problem by identifying the insect, weed or disease. Treat pests only when necessary, using the least toxic method.
	When a pesticide is required, comply with posting requirements of the county's Neighborhood Notification Law.
	Choose grasses adapted to the conditions of my site.