Encourage birds and "friendly" insects in your yard.
Attract birds by providing native trees and shrubs for food and cover throughout the year. Spiders, ladybugs, lacewings and mantises all eat pest insects. Learn to recognize and respect them. You can even buy these helpful insects and release them onto your land.

Care for your plants – and your soil.
Healthy soil means healthier plants that will need less pesticide, fertilizer, water and work. Locally adapted plants are more resistant to local pests and diseases. Regular weeding, row covers, crop rotation and mulching may eliminate the need for pesticides altogether.

Consider scaling back on your lawn size.
For steep slopes, shady areas, or near streams and lakes, alternatives to grass will need less maintenance and fewer chemicals.

Don’t overspray chemicals.
Apply pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers sparingly and only as directed on the label. Use them only on windless days and never near lakes or streams or when rain threatens.
... more information about safe gardening & pest control

Water your treated garden or yard carefully.
Too much watering will wash off the chemicals and create excessive – and polluted – runoff. Water infrequently but deeply and slowly to moisten the entire root zone.

Dispose of lawn and garden chemicals carefully.
Follow instructions on the container. For information on recycling chemical yard wastes, call 1-800-RECYCLE or the Hazard Line at (206) 296-4692.
... more information about safe disposal of your household hazardous waste