Natural Pest, Weed and Disease Control
Natural Yard Care
5 steps to a healthy yard
- Build Healthy Soil
- Choose the Right Plants
- Practice Smart Watering
- Natural Pest, Weed & Disease Control
- Practice Natural Lawn Care
Printable guide
Think twice before using pesticides
Pesticides (weed and bug killers) can damage soil and plant health, poison wildlife like birds and salmon, and harm our families health. The good news is that we really don’t need those chemicals to grow a healthy, attractive landscape. Try these natural methods.
Start with prevention
- Build healthy soil with compost and mulch – soil organisms protect plants from many disease and insect pest problems.
- Select pest-resistant plants, and put them in the sun/shade and soil conditions they like.
- Clean up diseased plants, and compost dead plants in fall to reduce hiding places for insect pests.
- Pull weeds before they go to seed and spread.
- Use a variety of plants, so if pests attack one plant, others can fill its place.
Identify the problem before you spray, squash, or stomp
The problem could really be incorrect mowing or pruning, improper watering, or other easily corrected practices. Or that scary bug could actually be a beneficial “good bug” that eats problem pests. Whether it’s a bug, disease, or weed, you need to identify it to know how to effectively manage it.
Accept a little damage – give nature time to work
Natural predators often bring pests under control, but they need time to work. Most bugs are good bugs: only about 5% of the bugs in your yard are pests. “Good bugs” like ground beetles, lady bugs, and lacewings help control pests. Don’t spray at the first sign of damage – nature may control it for you, or plants often just outgrow the damage.
If a pest or weed problem develops, use the least toxic solution
- Physical controls like traps, barriers, fabric row covers, or repellants may work for pests.
- Long handled weed pullers pop dandelions out easily.
- Mulching once a year reduces weeds in beds.
- Less toxic products like soaps, horticultural oils, and plant-based insecticides that work for many problems are now available – see Grow Smart Grow Safe below.
- Beneficial insects that prey on problem bugs are available for sale, or you can attract these “good bugs” by planting a variety of plants that provide pollen and nectar all year.
Use chemical pesticides as the last resort
If you must use a chemical pesticide, use the least toxic product, and spot apply it – don’t spread it all over the yard to kill a few weeds or bugs. It may be best to have a professional who has all the protective gear do the application, but don’t use services that spread chemicals over the whole yard or spray on a calendar schedule. You want to apply pesticides only when and where you really have a problem. Follow label instructions exactly – more is not better. And be sure to keep children and pets out of application areas.
Replace problem plants with pest- resistant ones
If a plant, even a tree, has insect pest or disease problems every year, it’s time to replace it with a more pest-resistant, site-adapted variety or another type of plant that doesn’t have these problems.
Learn more
Natural Pest, Weed & Disease Control (pdf) - Guide to a chemical-free yard.
Alternative Pest & Weed Control Methods (pdf) - More techniques for natural controls.
Grow Smart Grow Safe - Lists safer products.
Questions?
Contact the experts at the Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224 or email help@gardenhotline.org for free brochures, expert help in identifying “good bugs,” and solving your insect pest, weed, or plant disease problem.
Related Links
Integrated Pest Management - Factsheets on common pest problems and effective, less toxic solutions.
Disposal of Pesticides and Other Hazardous Products - Learn where to safely dispose of pesticides – then don’t buy more!
Links to Other Sites
IPMopedia - Pest identification and least-toxic solutions for home gardeners.
UPEST - Washington State University information on indoor and outdoor integrated pest management for schools and households.
UC IPM - University of California integrated pest management solutions for landscapes and agriculture.
NCAP - Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides – advocacy and science-based alternatives factsheets.