Reduction Tips
With a little effort and creativity, you can reduce or even eliminate chemical pesticides in your yard and home. Follow these tips to going pest-free the healthy way.- Use hand tools to remove weeds, or decide to live with a few weeds.
- Use corn gluten meal for crabgrass control.
- Attract natural predators such as ladybugs and lacewings into your garden, by planting dill, yarrow or scented geraniums. They'll eat the bugs you don't want.
- Use natural insecticide soaps and sprays containing garlic or hot pepper to get rid of plant munching bugs. They're available at yard and garden supply stores. Check the package for an EPA ID number and call your county to determine if the product is accepted at local drop-off facilities.
- Remove food sources inside your home and garage. Hungry pests like to eat bird and grass seed as well as human and pet food. Store all food in tightly sealed containers.
- Rinse out cans and bottles before placing them in the recycling bin.
- Seal wall cracks and spaces under doors to prevent pests from entering your home. Fill in space around pipes with steel wool.
- Take garbage out often and keep the lid on.
For more information on pest management, including non-chemical methods, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's web site.
You can also find helpful information in "Environmentally Conscious Methods of Pest Control In and Around Homes," a publication of the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
Disposal Information
Take leftover pesticides to your county household hazardous waste collection site.For more information, contact your county.