Landscaping, Gardening & Pest Control

Problems

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1. General Landscaping Tips 2. Garden and Lawn Maintenance 3. Pesticide Alternatives 4. Safe Substitutes for Pest Control 5. If You Must Use Pesticides. . . 6. Pesticide Disposal

Landscaping and garden maintenance activities can be major contributors to storm water pollution. Soils, yard wastes, over watering, and garden chemicals become part of the urban runoff mix that winds its way through streets, gutters and storm drains before entering our river tributaries.

For example, poorly functioning sprinklers and over watering waste water, and increase the amount of pollutants, such as fertilizer, that flow into storm drains.

Fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides are washed off lawns and landscaped areas. These chemicals not only kill garden pests, they also harm useful insects, poison fish and contaminate ground and surface water.

Leaves, grass clippings and tree trimmings that are swept or blown into the street and gutter also cause storm water pollution. These wastes clog catch basins, increasing the risk of flooding on your street, and carry lawn chemicals into the river. As they decompose, they also absorb oxygen fish need to survive.

Solutions

1. General Landscaping Tips

• Protect stockpiles and materials from wind and rain by storing them under tarps or secured plastic sheeting.
• Schedule grading and excavation projects for dry weather.
• Use temporary check dams or ditches to divert runoff away from storm drains.
• Prevent erosion by planting fast-growing annual and perennial grasses. These will shield and bind the soil.

2. Garden and Lawn Maintenance

• Do not over water. Conserve water by using irrigation practices such as drip irrigation, soaker hoses, or micro-spray systems.
• Athens has curbside yard waste pick-up. Leave clippings and pruning wastes beside the street for pickup. Or, compost the clippings at home and use the compost around your plants.
• Do not blow or rake leaves into the street, gutter or storm drains. Contact Public Works for pick-up.
• Use organic or non-toxic fertilizers.
• Do not over fertilize and do not fertilize near ditches, streams. or other water bodies.
• Store pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals in a covered area to prevent runoff.
  

3. Pesticide Alternatives

The "chemicals-only" approach to pest control is only a temporary fix.

A more common sense approach is needed for a long-term solution.
It’s called: Integrated Pest Management

Plan your "IPM" strategy in this order:

A) Physical controls Caulking holes Hand picking Barriers Traps

B) Biological Controls Predatory Insects - Green lacewings eat aphids Bacterial insecticides - Bacillus thuringiensis kills caterpillars

C) Chemical Controls - Your Last Resort Use these least toxic products: Dehydrating dusts (e.g. silica gel) Insecticidial soaps Boric acid powder Horticultural oils Pyrethrin-based insecticid