Lawn Care/Basics for Homeowners-Lawn Care/Pest Control
 Introduction |
| Insect
Pest Control |
| Burrowing
Mammals |
| Integrated
Pest Management |
| The
Grand Principle: Do The Most With the Least |
Pest management in lawn care is the process of controlling or elimination of any unwanted or undesirable living creature found in the lawn. Basically a pest is considered anything you find to be a nuisance. The term "Pesticides", though often misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, really applies to herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances used to control pests. These chemicals are generally always applies using some type of sprayer. Broadcast sprayers are used in applying chemicals to an entire lawn, while hand held spot sprayers are used to spray specific areas.
By their own nature, most pesticides create some risk to humans, animals, or the environment because they are designed to kill or fend off living organisms. Human or animal health impacts have led to the regulation or outright ban of products like DDT and Alar. The Office of Pesticide Programs of the Environmental Protection Agency is mainly responsible for the regulation of pesticides and their useage in the United States. Pheromones, microbial pesticides, and other biologically-based pesticides are becoming ever more popular because they are often safer than traditional chemical pesticides.
Safe Pesticide Handling and Storage
Combining these recommendations, the most constructive approach to weed control and pesticide application is the most conservative one. Give preference to the workable response with the least impact. Consider hand weeding for small isolated locations. When weeds or pests are too many, consider localized (topical) applications of pesticides and herbicides. When weeds or pests are still too many, consider general applications to the least toxic pesticide or biological controls like Bacillus thuringiensis.