HOMEOWNER’S GUIDE TO:

Alternative Pesticide Management

for the Lawn and Garden

XCM-221

A pest-free lawn and garden may sound Principles of this alternative approach include:
ideal, but is it really? Maintaining the perfect • Learning more about plants and their pests
urban landscape may result in a reliance on pesticides that • Selecting landscape and garden plant varieties that are
can lead to environmental and human health problems. resistant to pests
Many homeowners are looking for alternative ways to • Rotating annual garden plants to reduce the buildup
control pests in gardens and landscapes. of pests
• Inspecting plants frequently for the presence both of
Fortunately, there are many biological processes that work to
pests and beneficial organisms
keep pests in a natural balance. The “ideal” garden is one with
• Determining if control measures are really necessary
vigorous plants and protected natural enemies of certain
before taking action.
annoying pests. The conventional approach – applying
pesticides routinely, or at the first sign of any pest – is • Selecting methods that are least disruptive to natural
controls and least hazardous to the environment.
replaced with a lower input emphasis on nature at its best.
As you experiment with alternative methods of pest control,
It is not the answer to all problems every time. But when it
it’s a good idea to keep a record of your observations and
works, it is an ideal way to address pest problems while
the results of your treatments for future reference.
helping protect our water supplies and environment.
CULTURAL PEST CONTROL METHODS
Cultural methods seek to create the optimum growing
conditions for plants and natural predators, and
unfavorable conditions for pests.
 Some things to consider when managing your lawn:
• Plant native grasses or hardy strains of turf- type tall
fescue, blue grama, wheatgrass, or buffalograss instead of
Kentucky blue grass.
• Maintain a healthy lawn with good watering practices:
water as needed, and turn off automatic sprinkler systems
after a rain or during cool cloudy weather.
• Fertilize your lawn only as needed to promote a vigorously
growing turf that will compete well with weeds. A soil test
is one way to know what nutrients your lawn needs.
• Maintain a mowing height no less than 2½ to 3 inches, and
leave the clippings on the lawn so that nutrients are recycled.
• Core aerate the lawn once or twice a year.
Learn to identify specific insects before determining
control. (Insect populations can include beneficial • Use groundcovers, mulch, or beds instead of grass in
insects that you may not want to kill. ) difficult areas such as sloped ground or shady spots.

MECHANICAL PEST CONTROL METHODS

Some things to remember in managing a garden:
Mechanical pest management options rely on physical
• Select well-adapted, disease-resistant plant varieties. methods of destroying pests and include:
• Choose the right plants for the location and soil conditions. • Hand weeding
• Buy healthy and pest-free transplants. • Using a hoe or tiller rather than a herbicide
• Avoid under- or over-watering, since both make plants • Hand-picking insects off plants
vulnerable to insects and disease. • Hosing down plants to dislodge insects
• Improve the soil by adding organic amendments. A soil • Pruning diseased or insect-infested woody plants
analysis helps to evaluate soil type and fertility. Soil testing • Using mulches to reduce erosion and weeds and to
kits can be ordered by visiting soiltestinglab.colostate.edu. conserve moisture
• Change the location of annual plants from year to year BIOLOGICAL PEST CONTROL METHODS
to disrupt the life cycle of pests. Beneficial organisms such as certain insects or fungi can help
• Remove infested plant residue from your garden in the fall, control pests naturally, or they may be purposely introduced.
so that pests do not over-winter there. The main categories of these “beneficials” include:
• Incorporate a wide variety of plants to disperse potential Predators – include lady beetles, spiders, green lacewings,
pest problems and to provide diverse habitat for syrphid flies, damsel bugs, minute pirate bugs, ground
beneficial insects. beetles, and predatory mites. Larger animals such as birds,
• Keep your vegetable garden clean of rocks, wood, frogs, and garden snakes also prey on pest insects.
and debris that provide hiding places for slugs or
damaging insects. Xeriscape design, photo by Grant Reid.
 BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND THE PESTS THEY CONTROL

Parasites – include the tachinid fly and braconid wasp that

lay eggs on or inside insect pests.
WHAT TO PLANT TO ATTRACT
Pathogens – fungi, bacteria, and viruses that infect pests
BENEFICIAL INSECTS
much in the same way they infect people or other animals.
Some garden stores and catalogs carry beneficials, such as • Herbs belonging to the mint family: lemon
lady beetles. Conserving beneficials already in your garden balm, pennyroyal, thyme, and spearmint
is likely more cost-effective, and frequently is more • Plants belonging to the carrot family:
successful. Pesticides often kill these natural garden friends. dill and parsley
To encourage beneficials in your yard:
• Vegetables belonging to the cabbage family:
• Plant a diverse landscape that provides a variety of radishes, mustard, and broccoli (if allowed
habitats and food sources. to flower)
• Learn to distinguish beneficial insects from pests.
• Queen Anne’s lace, also known as wild carrot,
• Minimize pesticide applications. will serve as a nectar plant for parasitic wasps.
These natural controls often work more slowly than • Aster, Asclepias (butterfly plant), cosmos,
pesticides, and they require a food supply that could be the beebalm (monarda), Russian sage, Cleome,
very pest you’d prefer to be gone. However, they are and purple cornflower attract butterflies
nature’s way of handling high populations of pests, they and bees.
don’t contaminate our water supplies, and they can lend
beauty to a garden.
CHEMICAL PEST CONTROL METHODS Please note that these products are still classified as
There are some naturally occurring chemicals that are pesticides and should not be used indiscriminately. They are
classified as pesticides but nevertheless can be used in the best incorporated into a management program that uses all
context of “organic gardening.” In general, these compounds available cultural, mechanical, and biological control methods.
tend to be less harmful to beneficial insects, and they often Finally, it is a mistake to assume that naturally occurring
break down more rapidly than synthetic pesticides. chemicals are non-toxic. Some of these are more toxic to
Reduced risk pesticides include microbial insecticides, humans then synthetic pesticides. As with all chemicals,
botanical pesticides, mineral-based pesticides, and synthetic always read the label instructions prior to using these
organic compounds (oils, soaps, and detergents) produced alternatives. Under certain conditions, some of these
from petroleum distillates. These chemicals are available in chemicals can cause injury to plants and animals.
some garden stores, but may have to be requested
specifically. Some of these products are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Alternative Pesticides for Lawn and Garden Use*

ALTERNATIVE CONTROL CONTROLS NOTES

Bacillus thuringiensis (BT, Dipel) Caterpillars Non-toxic to mammals

Avermectin-B (Avid) Mites, leafminers, psyllids

Sabadilla (Red devil) Leaf hopper, caterpillars, squash Low toxicity, fast knockdown
bugs, et al. short residual, may irritate

Neem (Margosan-O) Leaf miners, loopers, mealy bugs, thrips, Slow kill
whitefly; some fungicidal activity

Sulfur Fungicidal activity on powdery mildew, Plant injury possible,

rust, some blights insecticidal activity especially at high
on psyllids, mites, thrips temperatures

Lime sulfur Dormant spray for diseases such as blight, Bad-smelling; may irritate
anthracose, powdery mildew

Bordeaux mixture Acts as a fungicide, controls bacterial Some cannot be used on

leaf spot; repels many insects certified “organic” produce

Diatomaceous earth Flea beetles, squash bugs, slugs Dust can cause lung and eye
irritation. Avoid inhalation
and eye contact.

Insecticidal soap (Safer’s soap) Aphids, certain scales, mealy bugs, Non-toxic to mammals; plant
psyllids, mites, thrips, white fly injury possible

Dormant oils Aphids, mites, and certain scales Non-toxic to mammals;

that over-winter on woody plants possible plant injury

Summer oils Aphids, mites, scales, thrips and their eggs Plant injury possible

*For more information, see the following factsheets from Colorado State University Extension at ext.colostate.edu: Bacillus thuringiensis,
5.556; Insect Control: Horticultural Oils, 5.569; Insect Control: Soaps and Detergents, 5.547; Insect Parasitic Nematodes, 5.573.
ALTERNATIVE PEST
MANAGEMENT METHODS SMALL CHANG E S
INSECTS:
• Keep your garden free of infested
plant residue and other debris.
• Prune out insect-infested parts of
plants. Hand pick bugs off
garden plants.
• Encourage biological controls
by planting flowers that provide
nectar, pollen, and habitat for
friendly predators.
• Avoid broad spectrum insecticides.
• Use insecticidal soaps, oils, and
botanicals as appropriate.
• Dislodge unwanted insects from
ADD U P
woody plants using a stream of water.
• Accept some insect activity as part of
a natural landscape.
SLUGS:
• Put beer in shallow containers or
saucers to attract and drown slugs.
• Place an overturned clay pot near
plants where slugs feed. Check
frequently for collected slugs.
WEEDS:
• Crowd out weeds with a
healthy lawn.
• Use mulches and non-plastic
landscape fabric.
• Hand pull, mow, or hoe weeds.
• Accept some weeds in your lawn
as part of a natural landscape.
DISEASES:
• Look for healthy transplantsof
well-adapted, disease-resistant
varieties.
• Rotate your annuals each year.
• Avoid over- or under-watering.
• Thin crowded plantings to improve
air circulation.
• Remove and destroy infected plants
from your garden and landscape.
 For more information on protecting water quality and the environment
around your home, please see the other Homeowner’s Guides:
XCM-219, Household Water Conservation
XCM-220, Pesticide Use Around the Home and Garden
XCM-222, Fertilizing Your Lawn and Garden
XCM-223, Protecting Water Quality and the Environment

Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn and Garden - This publication was
written by R. Waskom, T. Bauder, and E. Wardle.

© Colorado State University Extension. 2018