57 Ways - 9. Scout For Pests On The Landscape

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57 Ways To Protect Your Home Environment (and Yourself)

Caring for the Home Landscape

1. Aim for a healthy lawn rather than a perfect lawn
2. Cut the grass without gas
3. Prevent insect, disease, and weed problems in the garden
4. Identify fruits and vegetables that need fewer pesticides
5. Select native trees and shrubs that will thrive in your yard
6. Keep your tress healthy and safe
7. Plant “wild” in your backyard
8. Attract birds and butterflies to your backyard

Using Alternatives to Traditional Pesticides & Fertilizers - Where Practical

9. Scout for pests on the landscape
10. Consider microbial insecticides
11. Consider botanical insecticides & insecticidal soaps
12. Conserve beneficial insects
13. Monitor & control insects with traps
14. Use pest barriers in your garden
15. Solarize soil
16. Consider the potential of natural fertilizers

Using Chemicals on the Landscape - If Necessary

17. Know what to ask a lawn-care company and arborist
18. Understand pesticide toxicity
19. Read the pesticide label
20. Apply pesticides accurately and safely
21. Apply fertilizers accurately and safely

Storing & Disposing of Hazardous Chemicals

22. Store hazardous chemicals safely
23. Dispose of pesticides safely
24. Dispose of auto products safely
25. Dispose of paints and solvents safely
26. Dispose of adhesives, areosols, household cleaners & other hazardous waste safely

Managing Yard, Food & Other Household Waste

27. Reduce household waste
28. Recycle paper, glass, & aluminum
29. Reuse and respond
30. Recycle grass clippings
31. Create a compost pile
32. Use yard waste as mulch
33. Dispose of tree residues

Protecting Your Drinking Water

34. Know when & how to test your water
35. Test your water for coliform bacteria & nitrate 36. Test your water for pesticides - if necessary
37. Know the signs of contaminants in drinking water
38. Select effective water-treatment methods
39. Prevent contamination from septic systems
40. Know the pros & cons of bottled water

Protecting the Indoor Environment

41. Prevent contamination by lead
42. Test your home for radon
43. Reduce radon levels
44. Control dust, dust mites & other allergens
45. Reduce pollution from combustion equipment
46. Prevent contamination by formaldehyde and asbestos
47. Recognize tht it's not always necessary to control indoor insects
48. Select the right household pesticide
49. Control household pests with less toxic alternatives
50. Select household cleaners wisely

Conserving Energy & Water

51. Design new homes for energy effciency
52. Save energy in heating & cooling
53. Insulate & seal your home
54. Choose energy-efficient appliances
55. Save money & energy with compact fluorescent light bulbs
56. Use plants & other landscape tools to conserve energy
57. Conserve water in & around the home

9. Scout For Pests On The Landscape
	In the world of yards and gardens, the best way to prevent trouble is to go out looking for it. Regularly “scout” your lawn and garden for signs of damage or the culprits themselves—weeds and insects. Scouting is one of the best ways to cut down on the use of pesticides. By scouting, you can make sure that a problem really exists before you try to fight it. Scouting helps you catch problems in the early stages and makes it possible to “spot-treat” only those areas that require attention, rather than broadcasting chemicals across an entire lawn or garden.
	Spotting signs of damage doesn’t automatically mean you should take action. It all depends on the type of pest, the type of damage caused, the severity of infestation, and your own personal preferences. For instance, does the damage fall into any of the following categories?
	Economic damage: Some insects, such as termites, cause economic damage to a home, yard, or garden.
	Health risk: Some insects and related creatures are a concern because they carry disease. A good example is the tick, one species of which is responsible for transmitting Lyme disease.
	Aesthetic damage and nuisance problems: Some homeowners do not want to see holes eaten into leaves or all of the leaves eaten off of a plant—particularly the leaves of an ornamental–even though the plant may be able to tolerate the damage. Even normally desirable plants may become a nuisance if they begin to take over an entire yard.
	After you identify a problem, determine the potential for damage and how much you or your landscape can tolerate. Once you know what you’re up against, find out if the damage can be controlled with less-toxic strategies. Use pesticides as a last resort.