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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Marin County Stormwater Bug Identification Call the Marin Master Gardeners at 499-4204 or Pollution Prevention Program the Marin County Agriculture Department at PROJECT DIRECTOR (MCSTOPPP) 499-6700. Gina Purin Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program The Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP) is comprised of all 11 cities/towns and the Disposal of Hazardous Waste County unincorporated areas. Since 1993, the program has For disposal of oil-base paint, pesticides, PRINCIPAL WRITER, INTRODUCTORY PAGES worked to protect and enhance the water quality in our herbicides, solvents, etc. Debi Tidd creeks and wetlands. Novato Only: All Other Areas of Marin: The Gardens at Heather Farm Walnut Creek, CA Sample Publications Available from • Households: 892-7344 • Households: 485-6806 MCSTOPPP • Businesses: 892-6395 • Businesses: 485-5648 • Creek Care Guide PRINCIPAL WRITERS, FACT SHEET SERIES • Yard Clippings and Your Creek Bank Tanya Drlik, Bio-Integral Resource Center Recycling • Don’t Plant A Pest Michael Baefsky, Baefsky & Associates Visit www.marinrecycles.org to learn how to reduce and • Go Native! Using Native Plants For Your Yard, Patio and Creek recycle solid waste – including fluorescent tubes, used motor • Less Toxic Pest Control Fact Sheets (also available online at oil, antifreeze, latex paint, and household and car batteries. ESIGN AYOUT D /L www.ourwaterourworld.org) Available in English and Lauren Wohl Design, Oakland, CA Spanish! Green Building • Grow It! Managing Pests and Plant Diseases Using Less-Toxic Call Marin County Community Development Agency at GRAPHICS Methods 415-507-2659 or visit www.maringreenbuilding.org Central Contra Costa Sanitary District • Control It! Less Toxic Methods to Control and Prevent Pests In Responsible for originally developing the Our Water – Our World IPM Outreach Program and Around Your Home Free Materials Exchange • Putting Worms to Work and Keeping them Happy Users can search for items they need, or can donate/exchange unwanted items at • A Guide to Home Composting in Marin www.MarinMax.org • Mulching and Grasscycling (For on-line information, you can For more information, contact: link to www.stopwaste.org for information on bay friendly Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program landscaping, mulching, and grasscycling.) P.O. Box 4186 San Rafael CA 94913-4186 Video and DVD - The Healthy Home & 415-499-6528 Garden: Less Toxic Pest Control [email protected] Topics include problems associated with For more pesticides, strategies for ensuring a pest- information, call resistant garden and tips for keeping Marin County pests out of your home, what to do if prevention Stormwater Pollution fails, and specific control strategies for ants, aphids and Prevention Program spiders. This video or DVD can be borrowed from MCSTOPPP and has also been placed at local libraries,Video Droid, Silver Screen Video and Longs Drugs (Greenbrae 415-499-6528 store only). www.mcstoppp.org Funding for this project has been provided in full or in part through an Agreement with the State Water Re- [email protected] sources Control Board (SWRCB) pursuant to the Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 (Proposition 13) and any Less Toxic Pest Management amendments thereto for the implementation of California’s Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program. The Visit www.ourwaterourworld.org where you can contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the SWRCB, nor does mention ask a specific pest-related question and get a of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. direct response on-line. Also has information on less toxic alternatives. Includes information on hiring a pest control company. CONTENTS

How to Create a Healthy Home and Garden 1

A Safer Way to ‘Bug’ Pests 3

Ants 5

Aphids 7

Cockroaches 9

Fleas 11

Lawns 13

Mosquitoes 17

Roses 21

Snails and Slugs 25

Spiders 27

Yellowjackets 29

Weeds 31

Pesticides and Water Pollution 33

Use and Disposal of Pesticides 35

Managing Pests Naturally (Beneficial Insects) 37

Finding a Pest Control Company 39

Learn More About Pesticides and Safer Alternatives 41

OUR WATER – OUR WORLD: HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHY HOME AND GARDEN

You can maintain a lovely home and garden and still protect the health of your family, your pets, and the environment! This booklet will tell you how—by offering some less toxic, com- mon-sense techniques for managing some common pests found in the home and/or garden. If you can’t find the answer to your pest problem in this booklet, visit the Our Water – Our World website where you can ask a question and get a personal response from our “bug” ex- perts at: www.ourwaterourworld.org The Our Water – Our World program is a partnership between many different water pollution prevention agencies and stores that sell pesticides to the public. The goal is to help you manage home and garden pests in a way that protects the health and safety of your family, pets, and the environment. This program can help you identify methods and techniques for managing pests without using any pesticide products. However, if you do need a pest control product, you can use the website listed above to find the name of some of the least toxic alternatives available—as well as a list of stores in your community where they can be found. In addition, the fact sheets in this booklet provide some product information. When you shop for less-toxic products in one of the many stores participating in this program, you’ll find the tags shown below. Look for them to help you locate less-toxic products quickly and easily.

Not All Alternatives Are the Best Choice for Water Quality! Be aware that some products that are advertised as alternatives to conventional pesticides, e.g., synthetic pyrethroids, are actually very toxic to aquatic life. These pyrethroids may be listed on products under a variety of names such as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin (including beta- cyfluthrin), cypermethrin, deltamethrin, esfenvalerate, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, and tralomethrin. Though not used as widely outdoors (therefore less of a threat to water quality), pyrethroids such as resmethrin and tetramethrin can be found in aerosol products. Aerosols disperse chemicals in a way that significantly increases the risk of exposure to unintentional targets—including you, pets, and your family.

1 2 INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: A SAFER WAY TO “BUG” PESTS

Aphids on your roses, ants in your cereal, fleas on the dog—we’ve all been bugged by pests. For many people, the first response to pest problems is to reach for the bug spray. But the chemical products we use to control these pests can cause serious health and environmental problems, especially where children are concerned. There is a better way to solve pest prob- lems, and it is called Integrated Pest Management or IPM.

WHAT IS INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)? IPM is an effective and environmentally friendly approach to pest management that uses a combination of strategies to keep pest damage at an acceptable level. With IPM, the focus is on preventing pest problems through healthy gardening practices and avoiding the use of chemicals when they are not really needed. The goal of IPM is to manage garden and house- hold pests with as little impact to our families, pets, and the environment as possible.

WHY SHOULD I USE IPM? When rain and over-watering wash fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides into storm drains, they wind up in local creeks and waterways. If these products are poured (or the containers are rinsed) down household drains, many of the chemicals cannot be removed by sewage treat- ment plants—so again they end up in the water. This growing chemical pollution has an impact on the health of our families and pets, it degrades the environment, and it harms wildlife. IPM uses chemical controls only as a last resort, relying on the least-toxic chemicals possible. Also, keep in mind that 98% of the bugs in our gardens are actually working hard for us by eating pests, pollinating plants, recycling dead plant material into healthy soil, and pro- viding food for wildlife. Pesticides kill these helpful bugs along with the pests.

HOW DOES IPM WORK? IPM emphasizes checking your garden and home often to catch pests before they become a major problem. When you do find a bug, make sure it is actually a pest. Many bugs and their larvae may look ferocious but are actually good for your garden. Before trying to get rid of it, ask yourself if real damage is taking place or if the damage is at an acceptable level. When you do need to control pests, try a combination of the following IPM techniques: Horticultural Controls Keep gardens healthy and pest free by practicing the following: select native plants and/or disease resistant plants that are appropriate to your area, choose the right plant for your type of soil and weather conditions, rotate crops, clean up overripe fruit and diseased leaves, use compost or slow-release fertilizers, and mulch to prevent weeds.

3 Physical Controls Hand pick pests, protect delicate seedlings with fabric row covers, attract and trap pests with sticky traps, spray plants with a hose to dislodge and kill pests, and caulk or seal up cracks where bugs might enter the house. Biological Controls Many of the bugs found naturally in a healthy garden, including dragonflies, spiders, ladybugs, praying mantids, and lacewings, eat huge numbers of pests. Plants with small flowers and lots of pollen, like yarrow, alyssum, dill, and buckwheat, will attract these "good bugs" to your garden. Chemical Controls If a chemical control is needed at all, choose a less-toxic product such as insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, and boric acid. Use only the amount needed, and keep these products safely stored in the original container.

Following these IPM strategies will help you create a natural balance in your garden, making your home and garden a safer place for your family, pets, and wildlife.

One ladybug can eat If you piled up all the pests that spiders eat in a year 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. weigh more than 50 million people! , they would

At night, ground beetles use their powerful jaws to munch on garden pests such as snails and slugs.

Dragonflies have huge appetites and. can eat 300 mosquitoes in a day

4 CONTROLLING ANTSANTS IN YOUR HOUSE

he Argentine ant is a LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS PREVENTION frequent invader in • Store food in containers that seal INSIDE YOUR HOME tightly or in the refrigerator when California homes. Al- • Kill the scouts so they can’t call you notice ant activity. thoughT they can be pests, ants in the hordes when they find a provide an ecological cleansing tasty tidbit. • Keep things clean and dry and fix leaking faucets and pipes (ants need • Use ant baits because they use a and fertilization service of food and water). considerable importance. For minimum of insecticide and confine it to a very small area (see “Tips for • Caulk cracks where ants are enter- example, they kill and eat Using Ant Baits” on back). ing the house. Weather-strip doors and windows. many pest insects, aerate the • Use insecticidal dusts such as di- soil, and recycle dead animal atomaceous earth (DE) in wall voids • Put pet dishes in a soapy moat. Par- and vegetable material. and cracks before they are sealed. tially fill a wide, shallow container Use a hand duster to apply DE and with soapy water and place pet Because of these beneficial as- wear a dust mask and goggles. DE dishes in the water. has little toxicity to humans or pets, pects, it is undesirable (and TIPS FOR USING probably downright impos- but kills insects by absorbing their outer waxy coating, causing dehy- ANT BAITS sible) to eliminate ants from dration and death. Ant baits contain a pesticide mixed their outside habitat. The best with an attractive food substance. Ants OUTSIDE YOUR HOME approach to ant management take small quantities of bait back to • Use sticky barriers around the trunk is to try to keep them outdoors. their nest to share with their nest of a tree or bush to prevent ants from mates. In this way the entire nest can protecting aphids and other “honey- sometimes be eliminated. DETECTION dew”-producing insects. Prune any • Use baits with boric acid, hydra- Look for individual “scouts” or long branches that touch walls, fences or methylnon, fipronil, or arsenic as an lines of ants in or around the house the ground so ants cannot find alter- active ingredient. nate routes into the plant. near food or water. Distinguish Argen- • Keep several different baits on hand tine ants from Carpenter ants by size. • Ant Baits. If you can find the spot because Argentine ants change their 1 Argentine ants are small ( /8"), and outside where ants are entering the food preferences frequently. If one bait their queens are slightly larger. Car- building (this is often difficult to do), is not working, try another. Wait at 1 penter ants are /4" or larger and place bait stations there; otherwise least a day to see if they take the bait. require different management tech- use baits only inside. Outside, rain • Use baits inside (outside you may at- niques from those listed below for and sprinklers can wash baits away, tract more ants to the house and rain Argentine ants. and you may end up attracting ants and sprinklers will wash away bait). to your house.

5 TIPS FOR USUING ANT BAITS, box to save and use again. Put the CONT. box inside a plastic bag and seal it QUICK FIX FOR AN with a twist-tie. • Do not spray insecticide around the ANT bait; it will repel the ants. • Baits may take several weeks to kill the ants. At first you may see more EMERGENCY • When ants are gone, remove the bait ants coming to the bait, but after a 1. Find what ants are after (usu- so you don’t attract more ants. If the few days to a week you should see a ally left-over food) and where bait you are using comes enclosed in significant reduction. they are entering the room (usu- a bait station, return it to its original ally through a crack in the wall). Mark it so you can find it again. If you can’t find an entry point, see Step 5. PRODUCTS 2. Don’t remove the food until af- Examples of trade names of products listed in this fact sheet ter Step 3 because ants will scat- Desiccating Dust: Concen Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer, Safer Ant and ter. They are easier to kill in a Crawling Insect Killer line. Hand-Duster: Pest Pistol 3. Clean up lines of ants with a Sticky Barrier: Tanglefoot and Stickem Tree Pest Barrier vacuum, or spray ants with Baits containing Boric acid: Terro Ant Killer II, Drax Ant Kil Gel soapy water and wipe up with a Baits containing Hydramethylnon: Combat Ant Control sponge. Soap washes away the chemical trail ants follow. Baits containing Arsenic: Grants Kills Ants Baits containing Fipronil: Combat Quick Kill Ant Bait 4. Next, block entry point tempo- rarily with a smear of petroleum jelly or a piece of tape. Use sili- cone caulk to permanently close cracks in walls, along moldings and baseboards, and in gaps around pipes and ducts. 5. If you can’t find an entry point, clean up the ants (Step 3) to a convenient (preferably out-of- the-way) spot. Place the bait station on the line the ants had been following. Always remove the bait station when the line of ants has disappeared so you don’t attract more ants into the house (see “Tips for Using Ant Baits”). 6. If ants are nesting in a potted plant, move it outdoors. Water it thoroughly and place it in a bucket filled with water that comes an inch below the rim of the pot. Using a stick, make a bridge for the ants to get out of pot and bucket without getting in the water. The ants will soon begin carrying their white-col- ored young to safety. When no more ants emerge, drain the pot and return it to the house.

6 CONTROLLING APHIDSAPHIDS IN YOUR GARDEN

ost plants can tol- DETECTION LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS erate low to mod- Aphids are very small insects with soft, • Learn to recognize beneficial in- erate numbers of pear-shaped bodies. They have long sects. Among the most important Maphids without noticeable dam- legs and antennae, and most have two natural enemies of aphids are the age. On some plants, however, tube-like structures called cornicles on tiny wasp parasitoids that lay their large numbers of aphids can their hind end. Adults of some species eggs inside the bodies of aphids. have wings. Aphids can be many col- These tiny wasps cannot sting distort foliage and flowers and ors and are usually on buds or the un- people. A parasitized aphid (called stunt plant growth. Some species dersides of leaves. a “mummy”) looks puffed-up, and of aphids can also transmit plant its skin hardens and changes color, diseases when they puncture TOLERATE SOME APHIDS often to tan, light brown, or black. plant tissues to feed. • Tolerate low to moderate numbers • Attract beneficials to your garden of aphids as long as they aren’t caus- by planting a wide variety of flowering Aphids excrete “honeydew,” a ing noticeable plant damage. There plants. (See fact sheet in this series sweet substance that forms a is a reason for this: aphids have many called “Growing a Healthy Garden harmless but sticky coating on natural enemies such as spiders, la- to Manage Pests Naturally”). The leaves. The honeydew is soon dybugs, lacewings, and minute para- adult forms of many beneficial in- colonized by a fungus called sitoids (tiny non-stinging wasps) sects, including tiny wasps and “sooty mold,” which is also harm- that often keep aphid numbers be- lacewings, feed on pollen and nectar. less, but makes leaves look black low damaging levels. These benefi- • Consider buying beneficial insects cial insects rarely appear on the and dirty. Argentine ants love to (see the Products and Resources box scene until after aphids have begun on back). Lacewings are more likely feed on honeydew, and to ensure attacking plants. This “lag-time” can to stay in your garden than commer- a continuing supply, they protect be a day or two or as long as several cially available ladybugs. aphids from their natural en- weeks. As the season progresses, • Buy beneficials before aphid emies. When this happens, aphid aphid control by these natural en- numbers are high. If you have an management must include ant emies improves because more natu- aphid emergency, first use soap or oil ral enemies are attracted to your management (see the Ant fact sprays (see Products and Resources garden and more stay to breed. sheet in this series). below) to reduce the population. • Aphids commonly found on trees Then, if necessary, release natural will not infest your garden annuals, enemies. On the other hand, don’t and these aphids can help attract purchase beneficial insects before natural enemies that will attack you have aphids. You will be releas- pests on other plants. ing them into your garden to starve.

7 LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS, CONT. • Wipe off or prune away colonies of APHIDS — aphids from leaves and buds. SO MANY, SO FAST • Use a forceful stream of plain wa- The remarkable life cycle of aphids helps to explain how they can quickly appear ter to wash off aphids and honeydew. in large numbers. In spring in temperate climates, female aphids called “stem Do this on a warm, sunny day so that mothers,” emerge from “overwintering” eggs. These plump, distinctive-looking foliage dries off before night. aphids do not need to mate to reproduce. Stem mothers give birth to live daugh- • Use insecticidal soaps to kill aphids ters, and these offspring give birth to more live daughters — all without the on contact and spare beneficials need of mating. The swiftly growing female aphid colonies cluster around the such as lacewings. These products stem mother and continue to multiply long after her death. At the end of the do not leave toxic residues. season, aphids begin to produce both sons and daughters. When these males • Use spray (horticultural) oils to and females mature, they mate and the females lay eggs on bud scales or bark to control aphids without leaving toxic “overwinter” and begin the cycle again. residues for natural enemies. Note: Soaps and oils must coat the bodies of the insects to be effective.

PREVENTION PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES • Use slow-release fertilizers. Some Examples of trade names of products listed in this fact sheet: aphids reproduce more quickly on plants with high levels of nitrogen (Note: Product labels should list plants to be treated.) in their leaves and buds. Fertilizers Insecticidal Soaps: Row Covers: such as compost, sewage sludge, or Safer Insecticidal Soap, Bonide Fast Start Seed Blanket, Easy encapsulated materials are better Insecticidal Soap, Garden Safe Gardener Plant and Seed Blanket Insectcidal Soap, EB Stone Insect because they slowly release moder- Sources for Lacewings: Soap, Concern Insect Killing Soap ate levels of nutrients. Buena BioSystems Insecticidal Soap w/Pyrethrin: P.O. Box 4008 • Avoid excessive pruning because it Safer Yard and Garden Ventura, CA 93007 stimulates aphid-attracting growth. Insect Killer (805) 525-2525 • Use a row cover to exclude aphids Spray (Horticultural) Oils: www.buenabiosystems.com and other pests but allow air, light, SunSpray Ultrafine, Volck Rincon-Vitova Insectaries and irrigation water to reach plants. Sticky Barrier: P.O. Box 1555 • Control ants by spraying or paint- Tanglefoot, Stickem Tree Pest Ventura, CA 93002 ing a 4" wide sticky barrier around Barrier (800) 248-2847 woody shrubs or trees. (See the Ant Encapsulated Fertilizers: www.rinconvitova.com fact sheet in this series.) Osmocote

8 KEEPING COCKROACHESCOCKROACHES OUT OF YOUR HOUSE

in the middle of the room. Sticky acid is a slow-acting but effective traps with a nontoxic “pheromone” stomach poison. attractant will catch more roaches. When applying these dusts, use a When you find out where roaches hand duster and wear a dust mask, are hiding, you’ll know where to con- gloves, and safety goggles. Apply a lthough cockroaches centrate your efforts. very light coating because roaches will avoid piles of dust. are useful outdoors, LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS where they help re- • Use cockroach baits because they • Use sticky traps for small infesta- use minimal amounts of insecticide Acycle plant and animal wastes, tions. If you only have a few roaches, and confine the poison to a very they are not welcome indoors. you may be able to control the small area (see Tips for Using Cock- Research clearly indicates that problem with sticky traps. roach Baits on back). roaches can carry disease-caus- • Use a strong vacuum with a crevice attachment to pull roaches from PREVENTION ing organisms from sewers, gar- their hiding places. Prevent cockroach infestations by de- bage cans, or bathrooms to • Use insecticidal dusts such as diato- nying them access to your home and kitchen counters and human maceous earth (DE) or boric acid to the food, water, and shelter they food. Cockroaches can also in wall voids or cracks and crevices need to survive. trigger allergic reactions in before you seal them, under large ap- • Store food in the refrigerator or in pliances, or in other prime habitats. some people. containers that seal tightly. One way to gain access to a wall void • Keep things clean and tidy. Thor- is to remove the cover plates on elec- DETECTION oughly clean counters and vacuum trical outlets and switches. Always or sweep floors daily in eating and Except for size and markings, all cock- turn off the power before applying food preparation areas. Don’t leave roaches have a similar appearance. products near electrical outlets. dirty dishes out overnight, even in These insects are dark in color, oval- When properly used, DE has little the dishwasher. Any garbage con- shaped, and have long antennae. toxicity to humans and pets, but kills taining food scraps should be re- Roaches are mainly active at night and insects by absorbing their outer waxy moved from the house nightly. Thor- generally remain hidden during the day coating, causing dehydration and oughly clean recyclables before stor- in cracks and crevices near their source death. Use DE sold for pest control ing them. At night, place pet food of food. and not for pool filters. and water bowls in a moat of soapy • Use nontoxic sticky traps to locate Although boric acid has a low acute water. Reduce clutter in all rooms roach habitat. Roaches like to travel (immediate) toxicity for humans and (it provides habitat for roaches). by touching the edges of objects. pets, it should be handled carefully • Keep things dry. Fix leaky plumbing. Place traps along the edges of walls, and kept out of the reach of chil- Keep kitchen surfaces dry whenever appliances, cupboards, etc., and not dren and pets. For roaches, boric they are not in use, especially overnight.

9 PREVENTION, CONT. tinue to use sticky traps to alert you • Place baits near areas where roaches • Seal cracks and crevices. Before seal- to a new infestation or a rise in the are hiding and between their hiding ing, vacuum and wash the area to population. This is especially impor- places and food sources. eliminate all roach egg cases, fecal tant in apartment buildings, condo- • Place baits where roaches are most matter, or other debris. Caulk and miniums, or other connected dwell- likely to travel or congregate, such paint cracks around baseboards, ings where roaches can easily move as along the edges of walls, appli- cupboards, pipes, sinks, etc. Use mil- from one household to another. ances, cupboards, etc. — not in the dew-resistant caulk in moist areas. middle of the room. • Weatherstrip around doors and TIPS FOR USING • Keep baits out of the reach of chil- windows and repair holes in screens. COCKROACH BAITS dren and pets. • Inspect materials you bring into • Use baits indoors. • Check bait stations frequently, es- your house for roaches or their egg • Use baits with boric acid, fipronil, pecially if you have a large infesta- cases (small, dark, kidney bean or hydramethylnon. tion. Empty bait stations should be shaped). Pay special attention to • Reduce or eliminate food sources so removed because they make great used furniture and appliances and roaches will feed on baits. roach hiding spots. cardboard cartons from food stores. • If you are using a gel bait, put small • Monitor with sticky traps. Once you dabs in a number of locations rather have eliminated roaches or signifi- than large blobs in a few locations. cantly reduced their numbers, con-

PRODUCTS Examples of trade names for the products listed in this fact sheet: Desiccating Dust: Concern® Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer, Grow More® Diatomaceous Earth, Surefire® Crawling Insect Killer Boric Acid Powder: Roach Prufe®, Victor® Boric Acid Powder Hand-Duster: Pest Pistol® (if unavailable locally, call (888) 784-1722 or visit www.groworganic.com) Sticky Traps: Black Flag® Roach Motel Sticky Traps with pheromone attractant: Victor® Roach Magnet Baits containing boric acid: Niban® Granular Bait, Niban® FG, Seabright® Roach Free System Bait Bait containing fipronil: Combat® Quick Kill Roach Bait Stations, Combat® Quick Kill Roach Control Gel Bait containing hydramethylnon: Combat® Roach Control System, Combat® Roach Control Gel

10 KEEPING FLEASFLEAS OFF YOUR PETS AND OUT OF YOUR YARD

he flea most commonly LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS ing for up to a year. Mix the powder with water in a rug shampooing ma- found in and around INSIDE YOUR HOME chine with or without detergent. the home is the cat • Comb your pet with a metal flea During shampooing, borate binds to Tflea, Ctenocephalides felis. De- comb, available at pet stores. Focus carpet fibers and cannot be vacu- around the neck and base of the tail. umed up. Borate applied in water spite its name, the cat flea finds Keep a wide container of soapy water poses less hazard to the lungs than dogs and humans quite tasty nearby to drown captured fleas. borate applied as a dust. too. Flea bites cause irritation, • Bathe dogs to drown fleas. Use a dog • Flea traps attract adult fleas to the warmth and light of an electric bulb but also serious allergies in shampoo and increase effectiveness by using a flea comb while the pet is lath- and the fleas are caught on sticky pa- some animals and humans. ered. It is not necessary to use sham- per. Fleas prefer a warm body so traps poo with insecticide. will work better in areas where you can exclude animals and humans. DETECTION • Vacuum carpets, floors, and uphol- stered furniture frequently through- OUTSIDE YOUR HOME Adult fleas spend almost all of their out the year. Vacuuming carpets picks • Treat outside only where you have time on an animal’s body. In order to up adult and egg-stage fleas, but is less found high flea populations. To find know when to begin and end your effective at removing larvae. Clean these areas, walk around the yard in a flea-control efforts, use a specially cracks and crevices; or better still, seal pair of white socks. Check areas where manufactured flea comb on your pet permanently with caulk. Try gently animals rest, sleep, or regularly travel. to keep track of the flea population. vacuuming your animal’s coat to re- You will easily see fleas that jump onto Look for tiny eggs and tiny, white, move adult fleas. the socks. worm-like flea larvae on the floor, in • Use diatomaceous earth (DE) to treat • Do not try to combat fleas by spray- rugs, in cracks and crevices, and any- carpets, upholstered furniture, and pet ing around the perimeter of your where pets rest or sleep. Larvae feed on bedding or blow it into cracks and house or spraying your entire yard. dried blood excreted by adults. crevices. Use a hand duster to apply a Spot-treat only those areas where you Flea traps can help you pinpoint a prob- fine layer of DE. Wear a dust mask and find large populations of fleas. Fleas lem if you don’t own a pet but still have goggles and avoid getting dust in your will more likely be on an animal or in- fleas. Animals nesting near your house may pet’s eyes. DE has little toxicity to hu- side your home. Concentrate your ef- be the source. mans and pets, but kills fleas by ab- forts there. sorbing the waxy coating on their bod- • Check for wild animals like raccoons ies, causing dehydration and death. and opossums nesting under the house • Use borate-based carpet treat- or porch. Dead animals can also be ments. Borates have a low toxicity the source of a flea infestation. Treat to humans and pets. Fleanix carpet nests under the house with diatoma- treatment can control fleas in carpet- ceous earth.

11 OUTSIDE YOUR HOME, CONT. the entire body of the pet and is ef- to mammals, but are toxic to some fective for at least a month. These aquatic organisms; therefore, it’s best • Use beneficial nematodes in soil products have a low acute toxicity for to limit the use of IGRs to indoor ap- where you have found fleas. Apply mammals (chronic toxicity of fipronil plications where the product won’t go beneficial nematodes to soil where unknown) but can be irritating to eyes you have found fleas. The soil tem- down an indoor drain. and should not be ingested. Use gloves perature must be between 60˚F and when applying them. 90˚F, and the soil should be moist. PREVENTION Irrigate before and after application, • Lufenuron (Program) is given orally • Restrict pets to a regular sleeping but don't soak the area. For sources to the animal. Fleas that ingest this space so you can focus cleaning ef- of nematodes, see the Products and chemical produce only a few viable forts on fewer areas. eggs, and larvae from those eggs can- Resources box. not mature. Because lufenuron accu- • Use washable pet bedding that can be gathered up easily by the four cor- FOR YOUR ANIMAL mulates in fat and crosses the placen- tal barrier, do not treat pregnant, ners and laundered frequently. Soapy • Ultrasonic collars and machines are water destroys all flea stages. not effective. There is no scientific nursing, or very young animals. evidence that these products affect • Insect growth regulators (IGRs) such • For highly allergic people: Protect fleas, and they are not recommended. as methoprene (Precor) and pyri- yourself by wearing a long-sleeved proxyfen (Nylar) do not kill adult shirt and long pants tucked into socks. The following insecticides should only fleas, but break the flea reproduction If the weather is hot, just a pair of long be used during flea season. Unnecessary cycle by preventing flea larvae from white socks will offer some protection. use may speed up the process of fleas turning into adults. IGRs are sold in a Pick off fleas and drop them into soapy becoming resistant to these chemicals: variety of applications including spot- water. Apply insect repellents to shoes • Fipronil (Frontline) and imida- on formulations and tablets for your and clothing rather than to skin. cloprid (Advantage) are applied to animal. Some products combine IGRs • Keep wild animals and rodents away the skin of the animal in a small with other pesticides. In general, prod- from the house. Patch holes or cover 1 amount at one spot, usually at the base ucts containing just IGRs pose the them with screen ( /4" hardware cloth) of the neck or between the shoulder fewest risks. IGRs have low toxicity to prevent animals from getting in. blades. The insecticide spreads over

PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES Examples of trade names of products listed in this fact sheet: Insecticidal Dusts: Safer and Concern Crawling Insect Killer Hand Duster: Pest Pistol (If unavailable locally, call (888) 784-1722 to order); www.groworganic.com Borate-based Carpet Treatments: Fleanix (If unavailable locally, call (415) 459-4003 to order) Flea Trap: Raid Flea Killer Plus Beneficial Nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora): Rincon Vitova Insectaries, P.O. Box 1555, Ventura, CA 93002; (800) 248-2847; www.rinconvitova.com Buena BioSystems, P.O. Box 4008, Ventura, CA 93007; (805) 525-2525 www.buenabiosystems.com

12 TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BEAUTIFULBEAUTIFUL LAWNLAWN

awns can look beauti- IRRIGATE AN ESTABLISHED FEED YOUR SOIL BY ful without using pest- LAWN PROPERLY LEAVING GRASS ticides and fertilizers • Before you irrigate, check the soil CLIPPINGS ON THE LAWN Lwhich may contribute to water moisture with a soil probe or trowel. • Grass clippings can provide most of quality problems in a local The top 2" to 3" should feel almost the nutrients needed by a lawn if the dry before you add more water. creek, the Bay or Delta. The clippings are small enough to decom- • After watering, test for water pen- pose quickly without forming mats tips below will help you main- etration again with the soil probe or on top of the living grass. Remove 1 tain a healthy and beautiful trowel. Push a trowel into the soil only /3 of the blade at any one time lawn that can outcompete and tilt it forward. If the soil isn’t (see Mow the Right Way, below). weeds and other lawn pests. wet 4" to 6" down, continue water- • To decompose clippings, soil must be ing until it is. Grass roots will grow biologically active, i.e., contain bac- Problems with lawns, including deeper and the lawn will be healthier. teria, fungi, insects, worms, and oxy- insect pests and diseases, can Track the watering time so you know gen. Soil under a lawn that has been about how long to water. most often be traced to stresses heavily fertilized or frequently • Irrigate slowly so that water doesn’t treated with pesticides may be defi- caused by an inappropriate run off. Overwatering is wasteful cient in these conditions. choice of grass species or im- and can wash pesticides and fertil- proper care. Prevention is al- izers into the storm drains. MOW THE RIGHT WAY ways the best way to go, but if • If water runs off or pools even with • Mow when the grass is dry. slow irrigation, soil compaction may you do have lawn problems, • During the summer months, cut the be a problem (see Lawn Aeration on grass higher to help retain soil moisture. first identify the underlying the next page). 1 • Remove no more than /3 of the leaf causes and pests. For tips on • Clay soils hold more moisture and blade at one cutting. Removing more dry out more slowly; thus they may troubleshooting lawn problems, can be very stressful for the plant and need less frequent irrigation. visit: www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/ increase pest and disease problems. • Sandy soils dry out more quickly and TOOLS/TURF/. • Alternate your mowing pattern fre- may need more frequent irrigation. quently to avoid compacted ruts.

13 MOW THE RIGTH WAY, CONT. • Use a hollow-tined aerator that re- FERTILIZING moves plugs of soil, either a foot- • Keep mower blades sharp. Dull • Unless the soil texture is sandy, nu- operated or motorized model. blades wound the grass and make trient deficiencies are unlikely and it more vulnerable to pests and • Irrigate deeply (soil should be moist you may not need to fertilize at all. diseases. 5" to 6" down) so you can push the If in doubt, have your soil profession- • If rust disease is present in your lawn, aerator into the soil as far as pos- ally tested. sible. Allow soil to dry slightly be- clean your mower between mowings • Grass clippings left on the lawn can fore you begin. to prevent spreading the disease. provide most of the fertilizer. • Leave the plugs on the lawn and For information on keeping a pesticide-free • If you need to fertilize, use natural break them up with a garden rake. lawn, visit www.beyondpesticides.org/ fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers, pesticidefreelawns. such as sulfur- or polymer-coated DETHATCHING LAWNS urea. These products release nutri- DEAL SENSIBLY WITH • Thatch is dead and dying, matted ents slowly over a longer period, al- WEEDS grass parts that accumulate on top lowing the grass to absorb nutrients of the soil. Thatch prevents air, more efficiently. • Decide how many weeds you can water, and fertilizer from reaching • Fertilizers, if misapplied, can kill soil tolerate. It is not realistic to expect the soil. a completely weed-free lawn. life and ruin soil structure in even • Remove thatch with a rake if more the best soils. • Dig up weeds by hand and sprinkle 1 than /2" thick. grass seed on any bare spots so weeds • Aeration (see above) can help pre- LAWN SUBSTITUTES can’t fill in. Water regularly with a vent thatch buildup. fine spray until the grass sprouts. Americans spend a great deal of time • When soil is biologically active, grass on their lawns, using an abundance of • Keep grass growing vigorously to clippings decompose and do not con- water, fertilizer, pesticides, and time. If crowd out weeds. Don’t mow grass tribute to thatch buildup. This is a a grass surface is not required, consider too short; taller blades can shade the good reason to eliminate the use of replacing all or some of your lawn with soil enough to prevent some weed broad-spectrum pesticides that can an attractive alternative. The follow- seeds from germinating. destroy soil organisms. ing plants require little water and will • Use corn gluten meal to prevent cer- accept occasional foot traffic: tain broadleaf weeds from germinat- ing. Apply in spring or fall a few weeks before annual weeds begin to germinate. • Using combination weed and feed products is not the most accurate way to control weeds; unnecessary herbicides are likely to be broadcast onto lawn areas where there are no weeds and into adjacent areas where SOME PREFERRED GRASSES FOR CALIFORNIA non-target plants will be damaged. “Cool Season” Grasses (growing season is during cool weather) Certain trees growing in lawn areas Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) can also be damaged when their shallow roots take up herbicides. Dwarf tall fescue (dwarf varieties of Festuca arundinacea) “Warm Season” Grasses (growing season is during warm weather) LAWN AERATION Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon): loses color during cold weather; • Aerate spots where you can’t push a hybrids need more care screwdriver five to six inches into St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum): most shade-tolerant of the soil, where water pools, where warm season grasses grass looks thin, or where there is Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides): cannot tolerate shade, dies back in winter heavy traffic.

14 • Woolly Yarrow (Achillea tomentosa) — Plant from flats or small pots, 6" WHITE GRUBS apart; mow in March and July to a height of 2". Yellow flowers. Keep soil California lawns sometimes suffer from white grubs, the larval (immature) stage of several species of beetles. The genus of on the dry side beetles most common in California is Cyclocephala, the masked • Caraway-Scented Thyme (Thy- chafer. Masked chafer adults do not eat but in their grub stage mus herba-barona) — Plant all can cause patches of lawn to die when they feed on grass roots. thymes from flats or small pots, 6" Birds, moles, raccoons, opossums, and skunks can add to the dam- to 8" apart. Mowing is not neces- age when they dig in the turf looking for tasty grubs. But just finding wilted sary. Rose-pink flowers in early patches of grass or animals digging in the lawn does not mean that you have white summer attract bees. grubs! You need to find grubs by verifying their presence in several places. • Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox- 1 DETECTION arcticus) — Mow to 1 /2" in July and fertilize; purple flowers in summer The C-shaped grubs can be up to an inch long and are white with a brown head attract bees. and three pairs of conspicuous legs. • Strawberry Clover (Trifolium Damage from grubs can begin to show as early as June or July or as late as fragiferum) — Plant from seed in fall; August or September and can be mistaken for wilted grass under drought stress. mow to 2" in April, June, August; Later, irregular patches die and can be lifted up or rolled back like a carpet. Grub feeding can make the ground feel spongy. white to pink flowers in summer at- tract bees. If you have had white grub problems before or suspect you have them this year, begin looking in mid-May by using a cylindrical bulb planting tool to extract a • Garden Chamomile (Chamaemelum core of lawn so you can examine the roots. Pay particular attention to spots nobile) combined with strawberry clo- that look unusual. ver — Plant chamomile from flats or from small pots, 6" to 8" apart. Plant WHAT CAN YOU DO? strawberry clover as noted above and • Pay special attention to drainage and compaction. Healthy lawns can re- mow both ground covers to 2" in cover more easily from white grub damage. April, June, and August. In areas • Products with imidacloprid may be used to control grubs. This material has a low with serious drainage problems, cha- acute toxicity to mammals. However, imidacloprid can easily wash off and leach momile may not grow. In those spots, into groundwater, and if the insecticide becomes as popular as diazinon was, its combine the clover with either of the use also may lead to water quality impacts. The best approach for grub control is thymes listed above. to maintain a healthy lawn without using insecticides. See “For More Information” and “Products • Don’t treat late in the season when you find dead patches of turf. By this and Resources” sections for sources of infor- time grubs have done all their damage for the season and are ready to stop mation on other lawn substitutes. eating. Treating now is fruitless. Remove the dead grass, cultivate, and re- seed the area. PLANTING A NEW LAWN • Plant warm season grasses, such as bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, or buffalograss, or cool season grasses, such as tall or dwarf fescues. These grasses START OUT RIGHT are more tolerant of white grubs. • Have your soil professionally tested • Apply beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) in late spring be- so you know the texture, pH, and fore adult beetles emerge, or in mid summer to early fall when larvae are salt and nutrient levels. maturing. Nematodes must be applied when the soil temperature is between 60°F and 90°F and the soil is moist. Irrigate the soil before and after applica- • Choose a mixture of the right vari- tion, but don’t soak the area. Nematodes need moisture to move around in eties of grass suited to your climate the soil and to prevent their bodies from dehydrating. Apply nematodes in and the conditions in your yard (see early evening to minimize damage from UV light. Avoid using fertilizers 2 Preferred Grasses for California). weeks before and 2 weeks after the application. • Choose pest- and disease-resistant Choose a reputable supplier. To make sure nematodes are alive, place a small varieties (ask your nursery). quantity of the nematode-containing material in water and observe whether they are moving. Look closely because the nematodes are very small. A hand • Choose sod that has been propa- lens or magnifying glass will make it easier to see them. For more informa- gated in soil similar to your own. tion, see the web sites listed on the back page.

15 PREPARE THE SOIL BEFORE soil preparation can cause poor IRRIGATE A NEW LAWN drainage, resulting in weak turf. INSTALLING A NEW LAWN • Be sure to keep the soil under a new • Break up all clods into fine particles • Don’t work the soil when it is very lawn thoroughly moist until the and remove pebbles and stones. wet. You can damage its structure. lawn becomes established, but don’t • Check for low spots by irrigating. drown the plants. Too much water • Thoroughly mix soil layers of differ- Smooth out areas where you see can also wash away seeds. ent textures before planting. Poor puddles (very important if you are seeding a lawn).

PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES Soils Laboratory (see also the Yellow Pages) A&L Western Agricultural Labs 1311 Woodland Ave., #1 Modesto, CA 95351 209-529-4080 www.al-labs-west.com Corn Gluten Meal (pre-emergent herbicide) Supressa Concern Weed Prevention Plus Slow Release Fertilizer Vigoro Lawn Fertilizer and organic fertilizers such as Ringer Lawn Restore, Dr. Earth Lawn Food, EB Stone Nature's Green Lawn Food, Bradfield Organics Beneficial Nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora): Rincon Vitova Insectaries, P.O. Box 1555, Ventura, CA 93002; (800) 248-2847; www.rinconvitova.com Buena BioSystems, P.O. Box 4008, Ventura, CA 93007; (805) 525-2525; www.buenabiosystems.com For more information on how to apply nematodes see: www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/nematodes/default.htm or www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/homegrnd/htms/39nemat.htm Recommended Reading • Down to Earth Natural Lawn Care, by Dick Raymond, published 1993 by Storey Communications, Inc., Pownal, VT. • U.C. Guide to Healthy Lawns online at www.ipm.ucdavis.edu. • The Chemical-Free Lawn, by Warren Schultz, published 1993 by Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA; (610) 967-5171; www.rodalepress.com.

16 KEEPING MOSQUITOESMOSQUITOES AWAY FROM YOU AND YOUR YARD

osquitoes are de- • Fix leaky outdoor faucets and Note: If you are experiencing licious food for sprinklers, and don’t overwater your serious or persistent mosquito yard. Any standing water can pro- fish and other problems, call your mosquito and duce mosquitoes. aquaticM creatures, but their vector control district (see in- • Recycle tires or store them so they side) before considering the use buzzing and itchy bites make do not collect water. Tires are ex- of pesticides. them a great annoyance to tremely hard to drain, and each one can produce thousands of mosquitoes. people. Mosquitoes can also other animals to feed on blood. Adult • Keep roof gutters clean so water carry a variety of diseases; so male mosquitoes feed on flower nectar. drains; otherwise mosquitoes can controlling them, especially by There are many different species of breed in the leaf and water mixture. eliminating breeding sites, mosquitoes. Some bite during the day, • Don’t dump yard waste into street should be a priority for every- while others feed at night. Although gutters, storm drains, or creeks. It one in the community. some mosquitoes can fly long distances can impede the flow of water, allow- from their watery breeding sites, oth- ing mosquitoes to breed. The decay- The emergence of West Nile virus (for ers travel only a short distance to find ing organic matter then provides more information, see inside) has fo- their blood meals. Your bites may be food for dense numbers of growing cused public attention on mosquitoes. coming from mosquitoes you are rais- mosquito larvae. Fear may cause us to reach for a pesti- ing in your own backyard. • Drain plastic wading pools or foun- cide spray can, but this is an ineffective tains when not in use, or cover control. Pesticide sprays reach relatively PREVENTION tightly to deny access to mosquitoes. few mosquitoes, and outside, they The most effective way to control mos- If the fountain is large enough, stock probably cause more harm to beneficial quitoes is to find and eliminate their with mosquitofish (see below). insects. Residents can have a greater breeding sites. effect on the numbers of mosquitoes • Keep swimming pools and hot tubs • Eliminate standing water in con- in urban areas by following the tips in chlorinated and filtering. When not tainers around the home, including this fact sheet. in use for extended periods, cover water in cans, plastic containers, pools or tubs tightly or stock with The young (or larvae) of mosquitoes potted plant saucers, buckets, gar- mosquitofish (see below). One un- live in water and feed on microorgan- bage cans, barrels, wheelbarrows, tended pool or hot tub can breed isms and organic matter. Just about any and any other container that holds enough mosquitoes to affect a whole area or container that can hold water water for more than a few days. neighborhood. for more than a few days can produce a Empty the water and then either: • Use mosquitofish (Gambusia large crop of mosquitoes. Only adult invert, cover, punch drainage holes affinis) in backyard ponds or water female mosquitoes bite humans and in, or dispose of these containers. gardens, watering troughs, and • Change water in birdbaths and pet stockponds. These fish are available, water dishes at least once a week, at no cost, from your mosquito and preferably every 2 to 3 days. vector control district (see inside).

17 PREVENTION, CONT. The western tree hole mosquito is • Wear long sleeves and long pants Gambusia are cannibalistic, so be the primary vector of canine heart- when mosquitoes are biting. Learn sure to provide rocks and plants in worm in this area. Keep your dog’s the times of day when mosquitoes are your backyard pond to help shelter heartworm medicine up to date. most active in your area and avoid young fish, but not so many plants • Contact your local mosquito and outdoor activity at those times. that the pond becomes heavily vector control district if you are aware • Use insect repellents. Studies show shaded. Gambusia do not require of uncontrolled mosquito sources in that DEET-based repellents are the supplemental food. Overfed fish may your neighborhood, or if you need as- most effective.* (DEET has been in not feed on mosquitoes, and excess sistance with a mosquito problem on use for 40 years. After nearly 8 bil- food in the water may cause bacte- your property. Most district services are lion human applications, fewer than rial blooms that harm the fish. Do provided free of charge. 50 cases of serious toxic effects have not release mosquitofish into the been documented in the medical lit- wild. Caution: Check with your water PROTECT YOURSELF erature.) Don’t use a stronger or district before using tap water to fill • Install screens on windows and longer-lasting product than you your pond. Water containing chloram- doors and keep them in good repair. need. The American Academy of ine is toxic to mosquitofish and must Pediatrics says that repellents with • Certain species of mosquitoes are be chemically treated first. Products a DEET concentration of 30% are attracted to light, so keep outside (such as Aqua Plus) are readily avail- safe for both children and adults, but lighting to a minimum near entry able at pet stores. that a concentration of 10% can be doors; keep those doors screened or used on children if there is concern • Fill tree holes with a polymer such close them at sunset. as Soil Moist or Broadleaf P4. In the about potential risks and the threat of mosquito-borne disease is low. winter, the granules absorb water * For more information on DEET, see the Apply repellent to exposed skin and and eliminate mosquito breeding New England Journal of Medicine wash treated skin with soap and habitat. The granules can last for (www.nejm.org), July 4, 2002, Volume many years, absorbing water in win- 347, Number 1, pages 13 to 18: “Com- water after coming indoors. Do not ter and drying out in the summer. If parative Efficacy of Insect Repellents apply to infants under 2 months old, necessary, consult a certified arborist against Mosquito Bites” by Mark S. and follow all directions on the prod- about the condition of the tree. Fradin, M.D., and John F. Day, Ph.D. uct container.

PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES Examples of trade names of products listed in this fact sheet. Polymer for filling tree holes (also for use in soil to reduce plant waterings): Soil Moist Broadleaf P4 Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti): Bayer Mosquito Preventer Granules Mosquito Dunks Mosquito Bits Vectobac Insect Repellents Bite Blocker (active ingredients: soybean, coconut, and geranium oils) Cutter Advanced Insect Repellent (active ingredient: picaridin) OFF! (active ingredient: DEET) Repel Lemon Eucalyptus (active ingredient: oil of lemon eucalyptus) Product for making chloramine-treated water safe for fish: Aqua Plus Methoprene (insect growth regulator): Pre-Strike (granule type only)

18 Bite Blocker, made from soybean, and heat, they do not reduce the sumed by mosquito larvae to be ef- coconut, and geranium oils, is the chance of being bitten. These devices fective. Only mosquitoes, black flies, next most effective repellent. In one can be very expensive and they only and some midges are susceptible. study, it compared very favorably remove adult mosquitoes without ad- Other aquatic life are unaffected. with a 6.65% concentration of dressing their source. Energy and Follow all label directions. DEET for repelling mosquitoes for money would be better spent reducing • Methoprene (Pre-Strike) is an in- 1 3 /2 hours. breeding habitat and purchasing prod- sect growth regulator that interferes Note: If mosquito-borne disease is a ucts containing Bacillus thuringiensis with the normal development of serious concern, other repellents (see left) that can provide more effec- mosquitoes. It must be present in the should not be relied upon for pro- tive control. larval habitat to be effective. Larvae longed protection. Don’t use electric bug zappers because continue to grow until they reach Wristbands treated with insect re- they kill far more beneficial and neu- the pupal stage, at which point they pellent have been shown to be inef- tral insects than mosquitoes. die. Do not apply to waters that fective since repellents protect only drain into public waterways. a few centimeters from the site of LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS OTHER PESTICIDES application. Ultrasonic devices are The products described below can be also ineffective. Products containing used in ponds and water gardens, bird- • Do not use pesticide sprays to con- other plant oils, such as citronella, baths, fountains, pools, tree holes, and trol adult mosquitoes. Use a combi- have been found to provide little if other standing water where mosquitoes nation of the techniques listed above any protection. lay eggs. Apply when mosquito larvae or call your mosquito and vector • Use a screen tent for outdoor eating are first noted in the spring and con- control district. (it will keep out yellowjackets too). tinue at the intervals recommended on • Do not treat street gutters or storm the package. drains with pesticides. Storm drains MOSQUITO TRAPS AND • Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. are connected directly to the Bay, ELECTRIC BUG ZAPPERS israelensis (Bti) is the active ingre- and pesticides cause serious problems for aquatic life. Call your mosquito Propane powered traps, such as Mos- dient in a number of mosquito con- and vector control district if you sus- quito Magnet, are not recommended trol products (Mosquito Dunks, pect mosquitoes are breeding in the by the American Mosquito Control Mosquito Bits, Vectobac) that are storm drains or catch basins. Association. Although they attract used in water. This bacterium is a adult mosquitoes with carbon dioxide stomach poison and must be con-

WEST NILE VIRUS West Nile virus made its appearance in the U.S. in 1999. Most of the small number of serious cases in this country have been among the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 1% of people bitten by infected mosquitoes become seriously ill — most people who get infected do not develop any disease. Birds serve as a host for this virus. Mosquitoes acquire the virus from infected birds and then transfer the virus to people. The Department of Health Services is encouraging anyone who finds a dead bird (especially a crow, raven, magpie, jay, or hawk) to report it by calling: 877-WNV-BIRD (877-968-2473) Do not pick up the bird with your bare hands.

WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION: California Department of Health Services: www.westnile.ca.gov Mosquito & Vector Control Association of California: www.mvcac.org including contact information for your local Mosquito and Vector Control District.

19 Target the source.

Hole in Tree Pool/Hot Tub Trough • Chec k frequently for water. • Operate f ilter and skimmer every day • S toc k large troughs with to remove egg rafts and larvae. mosquitof ish. • Consult tree specialis t to see if hole may be safely f illed • Provide drainage for f ilter and pump • Clean small weedy troughs with a polymer product. sumps. weekly. • Place Bti larvicides in hole. • Remember, c hlor ine will N OT kill mosquito larvae. • Keep covers tight. Remove water from top of cover weekly. • S toc k unused pools with mosquitof ish.

Open Boat • Keep tightly covered. Chec k and drain cover weekly if necessary.

Clogged Rain Gutter • Clean frequently to remove leaf litter and keep water f lowing. Rain Barrel • Screen top with f ine wire Bird Bath mesh. • Change • Change water weekly. water weekly. Treat with Bti. St orm Drain • If mosquito breeding Anything That Will is suspected, contact Leaky Water Hold Wa ter More vector control. Equipment Than a Few Days • Repair. • Dispose of, tur n upside down, or s t ore indoors. St reet Gutter • If s t anding water persis ts Pond/Water Garden for more than a few days, • S toc k with mosquitof ish or use Bacillus remove source of water (for thurungiensis israelensis (Bti) larvicides example, adjus t spr inklers (i.e., Mosquito Dunks). Inquire at your to s t op overwater ing). local hardware s t ore or nursery. • Thin out aquatic vegetation. Protect yourself and your family.

20 WONDERFULWONDERFUL ROSES!ROSES!

o grow beautiful roses, CHOOSING THE PLANTING ROSES you don’t need to use RIGHT ROSE Before you plant, spend some time pesticides and fungicides • Start with healthy plants. Look for finding the best spot in the garden for Tthat may contribute to local glossy foliage and an evenly moist your roses. water quality problems. By rootball. Avoid plants with spindly stems, discolored or spotted leaves, WHERE TO PLANT choosing appropriate rose va- or roots that are coiled around the • Roses need full sun, which means at rieties, planting roses properly, container. least six hours of direct sunlight per and carefully following recom- • Choose rose varieties that are dis- day. Sunlight encourages blooms and mended cultural practices, you ease-resistant and suited to your par- discourages disease. can grow roses that are less sus- ticular climate. Some roses are diffi- • Roses require good drainage. In the cult to grow successfully in the cool spot you’ve chosen for planting, dig ceptible to pests and diseases. and foggy summers of our coastal a hole the size of a gallon jug and fill Roses have certain minimum areas. No roses are completely dis- it with water. If the hole doesn’t requirements, so if you have ease-free, but many can be grown drain in one hour, you should choose with minimal care. another spot or make a raised bed soil that drains slowly or a for planting the roses. shady yard (roses need six • Visit a local rose garden at various times during the growing season to • Give your roses plenty of room to hours of direct sunlight a day), see what particular varieties look like grow so that they won’t be crowded. look for plants that will be more and to learn about different roses’ Get an idea of the mature size of appropriate for your garden. growing habits and requirements. the rose when you buy it. Good air • Ask local gardeners and rosarians circulation is crucial in preventing The following tips can help you for suggestions. Try to find people disease. to protect your family’s health who are growing roses with minimal • Consider planting roses in mixed and the environment while you pesticides. beds rather than traditional rose • Contact local rose societies, nurser- beds. This diversity of plants will grow strong, healthy roses with attract beneficial insects and cut glorious blooms. ies, and Master Gardeners for lists of roses they recommend for your area. down on the spread of rose pests and diseases.

21 WHEN TO PLANT • Water thoroughly. If the rose sinks These fertilizers release nutrients after watering, you may need to re- slowly over a long period, prevent- • Roses purchased in pots can be move it and replant it higher to keep ing spurts of succulent growth planted any time of year, but the the soil from touching the root which attract aphids and diseases. best selection is available in nurs- crown or to keep the bud union at Organic natural fertilizers, includ- eries from December to May. Pot- least 2" above the ground. ing compost, will also provide soil ted roses can be planted immedi- structure and moisture retention ately, or they can remain in their • Cover the soil with 2" to 3" of organic and will improve food for essential pots for several months. mulch. See below for more details. soil organisms. • Bare root roses (plants with no soil on • If you choose a synthetic commercial their roots) are available December CARING FOR YOUR ROSES fertilizer, choose one formulated for through February. They should be WATERING roses and try applying it at half-strength. planted right after you buy them so that they don’t dry out. Soak the plants The amount of water your roses will • If you have sandy soil that is defi- overnight in water before planting. need depends on the climate and the cient in nutrients and organic mat- weather, the type of soil, and the type ter, you may need to apply fertilizer HOW TO PLANT of rose. In areas with summer fog, roses every month during the growing sea- Planting in Containers will need less water than in areas with son. (Note that a slow-release fer- summer heat. You will have to water tilizer like Osmocote does not have For container planting, choose roses more frequently if you have sandy soil to be applied every month.) Roses that don’t grow more than 4 feet tall. than if you have clay soil. It is impor- growing in clay soil containing or- Choose a container at least 20" deep tant to give your roses the right amount ganic matter may need fertilizing and wide. Use a premium commer- of water. Waterlogged soil will kill roses, only once a year. cial potting soil. You may also want and drought conditions can stress to add organic matter such as com- • Avoid using fertilizer/systemic plants, making them more susceptible post or high-quality rose planting insecticide combinations. These to pests and diseases. mix. Water well after planting. can cause stunted and deformed • Keep the soil moist. Use your finger or leaves, especially when the weather Planting in the Ground a soil probe to test the soil and check is cool. They may also harm soil- • Dig a hole the depth of the container roses in pots at least twice a week. dwelling organisms. and at least two times the diameter of • Watering with soaker hoses or a drip • Fertilize during the growing season the container. For bare root roses dig a irrigation system delivers water to after the soil has warmed up. Plants hole that will comfortably hold the roots the soil without wetting the foliage. will not take up fertilizer when the of the plant. Roots need to reach out This can help prevent fungal dis- soil is cold. laterally as far as possible in order to eases. If you water with a sprinkler, • Sweep up any fertilizer that spills on take advantage of water and nutrients. water early in the day so the foliage driveways or paths and place around • Do not amend the soil in the plant- will dry out before evening. plants. Irrigation or rain can wash ing hole. Research has shown that • If you use granular fertilizer, water it in fertilizer into storm drains where it soil amendments are not necessary with a hose. Drip systems don’t provide causes problems for aquatic life in most soils, including clays. enough water to dissolve the granules. when it reaches a creek or the Bay. • Place the rose in the hole so that the • If you are concerned about the fer- bud union (the knobby part of the FERTILIZING tility of your soil and are considering trunk where the rose was grafted) is Roses prefer a slightly acidic soil (pH an extensive fertilization program, 2" to 3" above the soil. For roses 6.2 to 6.8) that is not high in salt. have your soil tested by a professional grown on their own roots, look for Fertilizers such as alfalfa meal, cotton- lab first. The lab analysis will provide the “root crown,” the area where the seed meal, blood meal, and bat guano you with recommendations for spe- roots meet the trunk. Plant with the can acidify the soil. Animal manures cific amendments. (Try A&L West- root crown above the soil, but not are generally high in salts. ern Agricultural Labs, 1311 Wood- so high the roots are exposed. • Use slow-release fertilizers such as com- land Ave., #1, Modesto, CA 95351; • Fill in the hole with the soil you re- post or those listed above or encapsu- (209) 529-4080; www.al-labs-west.com). moved and gently tamp it down. lated materials such as Osmocote.

22 MULCHING problems. Pruning allows you to re- diseased prunings and rake up any move dead, spindly or diseased plant diseased leaves and blossoms as they Mulching with organic materials, like material, helps to shape plants and pro- fall. Do not compost them unless compost and shredded leaves, helps mote flowering and new growth, and you have reliably hot compost that to conserve moisture, control weeds, provides good air circulation to dis- you turn regularly. Diseases can be improve soil structure, and keep courage diseases. Use sharp tools so you transmitted from stems, leaves, and roots cool in summer heat. Mulch won’t tear the bark or damage the cane. petals lying on the ground and from can also prevent the spread of diseases diseased plant material. like black spot by keeping disease • During the growing season, remove spores from splashing up onto the any leaves and shoots affected by dis- • The modern Hybrid Tea Roses and plant from the soil. Spread a two-to ease but do not prune too heavily. The Floribundas only produce flowers on four-inch layer of mulch around each plant will respond with new, succulent new growth so prune to remove last plant, keeping the mulch a few growth that is susceptible to aphids and year’s wood. Cut these bushes back inches away from the trunk. powdery mildew. During winter prun- every winter, leaving 2/3 of the ing (December to February), remove canes’ height at the base for light PRUNING any diseased portions of the plant. pruning, 1/2 of the height for me- Careful pruning can keep roses healthy • Good sanitation is essential in reduc- dium pruning, and 1/3 of the height and help to prevent disease and pest ing disease problems. Remove all for heavy pruning.

MANAGING COMMON ROSE PESTS AND DISEASES WITHOUT PESTICIDES Inspect plants regularly to detect any diseases or pests before they become a problem. Become familiar with the pests and diseases that are common in your area. Before you treat plants for insect problems, look for beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, syrphid flies, and orange-and-black soldier beetles. If you see these natural enemies of rose pests, refrain from using an insecticide because you will kill more useful insects than pests. (See following page for less-toxic chemical control for rose diseases.) APHIDS POWDERY MILDEW Tiny (1/8”), sucking insects that feed on plant sap. Optimum conditions for infection: Night — 61°F and Often found in clusters on new shoots and flower buds, 95% to 99% relative humidity; day — 81°F and 40% to especially on over-fertilized plants. May cause leaves to 70% relative humidity. Grows well only on new growth. discolor or turn black with sooty mold. Natural preda- Symptoms: curled leaves and a white or gray powdery tors can reduce their numbers. Controls: Wipe off by coating on leaves, shoots, and flower buds. Spores over- hand or spray off with water, prune off infested growth, winter on leaves and leaf buds, and are spread by wind. spray with an insecticidal soap, use slow-release fertiliz- Controls: Plant disease-resistant varieties, wash leaves ers to prevent growth spurts. in early afternoon with a strong spray, avoid heavy fer- tilization or heavy pruning that causes spurts of new, BLACK SPOT highly susceptible growth. Optimum conditions for infection: 64°F to 75°F and 95% relative humidity. Spores must be continuously wet RUST for 7 hours for infection to occur. Symptoms: circular Optimum conditions for infection: 64°F to 70°F and con- black spots with fringed edges on leaves and stems. Leaves tinuous moisture for 2 to 4 hours. Cold winters and very may yellow and drop. Spores overwinter on infected stems hot summers limit development. Symptoms: small orange and fallen leaves and are spread by splashing water, cul- or yellow spots on any green portion of the plant. On the tivation, and insects. This disease is more common along leaves, symptoms start on the undersides and progress to the coast. Inland it may indicate excessive moisture, in- the upper surfaces. Infected leaves may drop. Overwinters sufficient light, or poor air circulation. Controls: Choose on leaves and stems and is spread by wind, rain, and over- resistant varieties, prune away and destroy infected plant head watering. Controls: Choose resistant varieties, remove material, increase air circulation, destroy fallen leaves, and destroy fallen leaves, mulch to prevent spread of spores, mulch to prevent spread of spores. remove and destroy infected shoots (look for dark, corky lesions). Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation.

23 PRUNING, CONT. LESS-TOXIC CHEMICAL • Antitranspirants and horticultural • Arching shrub roses should be CONTROLS oil have been observed to provide pruned lightly so their naturally roses with protection from fungal If disease or pest problems are persis- elegant shape is not destroyed. Thin diseases. They create a thin coat- tent in your garden, you may want to the canes so they do not cross or rub, ing that can prevent spores from use one of these less toxic chemicals. and cut back the lateral shoots. fungal diseases from invading the Because these products prevent but do leaves. Treatment is begun when • Climbers should also be pruned lightly. not cure disease, treatments must begin new leaves appear in spring and Don’t cut back long canes. Train them before symptoms are widespread. Be must be repeated whenever you see into a horizontal or diagonal position sure to coat both sides of the leaves. To new growth. to encourage lateral shoots that pro- decrease the possibility of burning leaves NOTE: In its ready-to-use form, the duce flowers all along the cane rather or flowers, water plants the day before antitranspirant Cloud Cover is too than just at the tip. Trim back lateral you treat them and test a few leaves and strong for roses. The concentrate shoots to 2 or 3 nodes. Remove canes petals before spraying the whole plant. that cross or rub. can be mixed 1 part Cloud Cover to • Potassium bicarbonate is similar to 12 parts water to prevent burning. • Roses that bloom once in the spring common baking soda and can be used Use a 1% solution of horticultural should be pruned right after they to prevent powdery mildew. It must oil and water (about 3 tablespoons have flowered. be applied weekly. Or, use this bak- of oil in 1 gallon of water). • For more information, look for ing soda mixture: 1 tablespoon bak- • Neem oil can help prevent powdery classes at public gardens, garden ing soda, plus 2 tablespoons horticul- mildew, black spot, and rust. Neem clubs, your local nursery or Univer- tural oil in 1 gallon of water. Spray oil can be toxic to bees, so it is safest sity of California Cooperative Exten- when you first detect disease, and to spray it in the evening. sion Master Gardeners. repeat when new symptoms appear. • Biofungicides attack and outcom- • Sulfur and lime can be effective pete pathogens for nutrients and for against black spot, powdery mildew, space on leaves. and rust. Do not use when tempera- tures exceed 85F° because you will burn the leaves.

PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES Examples of trade names of products listed in this fact sheet: Horticultural Oil: Bonide All Seasons Spray Oil Slow Release Fertilizer: Osmocote Neem Oil: Rose Defense, Bonide Rose RX 3 in 1, Garden Safe Fungicide 3 Potassium Bicarbonate: Kaligreen Soil Probe: Check your nursery Antitranspirant: Cloud Cover; Wilt Pruf Biofungicide Bacillus subtilus: Serenade Garden Disease Control Recommended Reading Contact local rose societies, nurseries, and Master Gardeners for lists of roses they recommend for your area. Handbook for Selecting Roses, American Rose Society. 1998. Shreveport, LA. (318-938-5402) Healthy Roses, University of California, Div. of Agriculture and Nat. Resources. 2002. Berkeley. (800-994-8849) The Natural Rose Gardener, Lance Walheim. 1994. Ironwood Press. The Organic Rose Garden, Liz Druitt. 1996. Taylor Publishing Company. Dallas. The Rose Book, Maggie Oster. 1994. Rodale Press. Emmaus, PA.

24 CONTROLLING SNAILSSNAILS ANDAND SLUGSSLUGS IN YOUR GARDEN

mazing as it seems, eggs, crush them or scoop them into a mollusks 3 or 4 inches underground our pest snails were plastic bag, seal it, and put the bag in will add nutrients to the soil and the garbage. avoid fly problems. originally imported Afrom France for culinary pur- USE BARRIERS LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS poses. Unfortunately, they Before using barriers, hand-pick for a escaped to become a major gar- Keeping down the population of slugs couple of nights. After the barriers are and snails requires persistence. By den and agricultural problem. in place, check for snails and slugs using a combination of two or more of caught inside the barrier. the following methods, you should be Snails and slugs are closely • Wrap a strip of copper (Safer Slug able to reduce their numbers, and keep related. They both have soft, and Snail Copper Barrier Tape) snails and slugs at acceptable levels in oblong bodies and produce around a tree trunk, flower pot, or the garden. quantities of slime to help the wooden sides of garden beds or fences. Snails and slugs are repelled them move around. The most HAND-PICK AT NIGHT by the unpleasant reaction between obvious difference is that snails • To be effective, hand-picking must their bodies and the copper. be thorough and it must be done have shells. • Cover seedlings with small cages regularly. Collect nightly until it’s made from plastic or galvanized hard to find snails and slugs, then metal window screen. Push the cages check once a week. DETECTION into the soil so snails and slugs can’t Are your vegetable and flower seed- • The best time for hand-picking is be- squeeze under. fore dawn or after 10 or 11 pm when lings being devoured overnight? Are • Cover rows of vegetables with special they come out to feed. You can go out you finding large ragged holes in your horticultural fabric (Fast Start, Seed earlier, but you won’t find as many. prized ornamentals? Do you see slime Blanket) that lets in light and water trails across your walkways? If so, your • A flashlight and pair of gloves or but excludes snails and slugs. garden is probably harboring snails tongs will make collecting these • Use a product like SlugStop and slugs. slimy creatures easier. (coconut oil soap) to repel slugs and Snails and slugs are active mostly at • Crush snails and slugs completely snails. Apply the material in a ring night and on dark, cloudy days. On (otherwise they may recover and around individual plants. walk away) or drown them in a pail sunny days they can be found in moist, • Snails and slugs may cross barriers of soapy water (they survive in plain shady spots. Look for their eggs in the such as diatomaceous earth, water). A few dead snail and slug soil (about an inch down) or under lime, sawdust, ashes, etc., especially bodies left on the soil surface will rocks, boards, or plant debris. The eggs when these barriers are wet. Lime, attract more snails and slugs and are laid in masses of up to 100 and re- sawdust, and ashes can also be make your collecting easier, but large semble small pearls. When you find detrimental to your soil. piles will breed flies. Burying crushed

25 USE TRAPS USE IRON PHOSPHATE BAIT PREVENTION • Snails and slugs can be trapped • Choose a bait product carefully. • Snails and slugs find large expanses under upside-down flower pots, Baits containing methiocarb kill of ivy, nasturtiums, and other suc- dark-colored plastic sheeting, and earthworms and beneficial insects. culent ground covers particularly wooden boards. Place these traps • Baits containing iron phosphate (see attractive, and they also hide in around the garden and collect snails product list below) are safer for chil- clumps of agapanthus, lilies, daffo- and slugs in early morning. dren and pets than baits containing dils, and iris. They are less attracted • Homemade or commercial pit traps metaldehyde. Nevertheless, always to plants with dry, hard leaves like that use beer or yeast mixtures to keep this and all other pesticides out rhododendrons, junipers, and bam- lure snails and slugs to a drowning of the reach of children and pets. boo. If you can’t remove the attrac- tive plants, regularly search them death may help, but hand-picking • After eating iron phosphate, snails for pests. will probably still be necessary. and slugs stop feeding and die within 3 to 6 days. They often crawl into • Moisture makes an area much more ENCOURAGE NATURAL PREDATORS secluded places, so you may not see attractive to snails and slugs. Avoid Many common ground beetles kill dead bodies. over-watering and use drip emitters to deliver water only where it is snails and slugs. Most of these beetles • Reapply iron phosphate baits every needed. Water early in the day to are large (1 to 2 inches), black, tank- 2 weeks. like creatures. They are found in the allow the area to dry out before same moist habitats as their prey: un- nightfall. It may be necessary to der rocks, boards, leaves, etc. Avoid remove mulch from areas with killing these allies. severe problems. • Remove any boards and flower pots that you aren’t using as traps.

PRODUCTS Examples of trade names of products listed in this fact sheet: Copper Barrier: Safer Slug and Snail Copper Barrier Tape Horticultural Fabric (Row Cover): Fast Start, Seed Blanket, Easy Gardener Plant and Seed Blanket Baits containing Iron Phosphate: Sluggo, Escar-Go, Worry Free, Slug Magic, Bayer Advanced Dual Action Slug and Snail Killer Bait,Garden Safe Slug and Snail Bait, Spectracide Snail and Slug Killer Bait

26 LIVING WITH SPIDERSSPIDERS THE HELPFUL HUNTERS

piders are beneficial ably nothing to be concerned about. where you most often find the eight- creatures. Because Of course, if a bite affects a large area, legged creatures. is very painful, and/or is followed by diz- they feed on large • Get rid of webs. If you’re willing to ziness, fever, nausea, or any other severe share your house with a few spiders, quantitiesS of insects, they symptoms, seek medical advice imme- you can periodically vacuum up webs should be tolerated as much as diately. Try to capture the offending that are eyesores or embarrassing to possible in the home and gar- spider, drop it into a small jar of rubbing you as a housekeeper. Leaving the alcohol, and save it for identification. den. Spiders are not insects. spiders will allow them to continue to do their pest control work. They are classified as “arach- WHAT CAN I DO? • Take spiders outside. Catch spiders nids” and have eight legs. In- Harmless or not, the presence of spi- in a container, cover the container sects have six legs. ders or their webs in the house is with a piece of paper, and release upsetting to many people. Unfortu- them outside. nately, spider webs are often associated FEW SPIDERS ARE • Keep spiders out of the house. with poor housekeeping, under the DANGEROUS Caulk cracks and crevices. Install mistaken assumption that a “clean” screens on windows and doors. There are over 3,000 species of spi- house harbors no insects or spiders at ders in the U.S. and only a small num- all. On the contrary, spiders can be an • Reduce their food supply. What are ber of these are dangerous to people. asset to the conscientious housekeeper those spiders eating — fruitflies? Try In California, there are only a few spi- since they capture and consume many storing ripening fruit in paper bags ders that cause concern for people (see pest insects before the human residents that are folded over twice and sealed box on back). ever see the pests. with a large clip. Are they feasting on the insects attracted to a porch CASES OF MISTAKEN INSIDE YOUR HOME light? Try a yellow bulb. Are house- IDENTITY • Vacuum instead of spraying flies the spider’s treat? Install screens If you People often think they have been bit- around the house for spiders. on windows and doors. cannot endure spiders or their webs ten by a spider when the culprit is ac- in your home, the easiest and safest OUTSIDE YOUR HOME tually a flea, tick, mite, or even a dis- way to get rid of them is to vacuum Don’t spray your garden or around ease condition. Very few spiders are up both spiders and webs. The dust the outside of your house to kill spi- equipped with mouth parts that can inside the vacuum bag will quickly ders. Outdoors, spiders are providing pierce human skin. If the bites you are suffocate any spiders you catch. a very useful pest control service. Leave discovering are small, mild, and disap- Make a periodic check of the areas them to do their job. pear within a day or two, there is prob-

27 BLACK WIDOW, BROWN WIDOW, AND RECLUSE SPIDERS The black widow that is found in California is the shiny black Latrodectus hesperus. The female sports a characteristic red hourglass-shaped mark on the underside of her abdomen. The brown widow (Latrodectus geometricus), which occurs in Southern California, is a mottled brownish yellow. The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) is not known to exist in California. There are, however, other recluse spiders in Califor- nia that can cause problems for people. Recluse spiders vary from tan to dark brown, but they all have 6 eyes arranged in pairs. Usually it takes an expert to definitively identify a recluse spider. Deaths from the bites of these three spiders are very rare. For many people, bite symptoms are not significant enough to warrant medical attention. Bites are of most concern to the very young, the very old, and those who are seriously ill. These spiders are not aggressive and they are rarely encountered by people. Ordinarily, the widow spiders and the recluses are reluctant to bite people. They spend their lives in their webs waiting for prey. They do not go out hunting. Where are these spiders found? • Usually (but not always) near the ground • Dark, dry, protected crevices in and around buildings • Lower portions of seldom-used cupboards, closets, or other dark, dry storage areas. • Woodpiles, lumber piles, or rock piles • Stacked patio furniture, flower pots, or baskets • Rodent burrows • Water meter boxes • Irrigation control boxes How to avoid bites from black widows, brown widows, and recluse spiders: • Wear gloves to clean up garages, debris, or woodpiles outside, and relatively undisturbed storage areas and piles of clutter inside. • If you live in an area where these spiders are common, check your bed before getting in, don’t leave clothing on the floor, and shake out your shoes before putting them on. • Teach children not to tease spiders in their webs or to poke bare fingers into dark cracks and crevices. • Always pay attention to where you place your hands.

28 CONTROLLING YELLOWJACKETSYELLOWJACKETS AROUND YOUR HOME

ith their potent LESS-TOXIC CONTROLS TRAPPING YELLOWJACKETS sting, yellowjack- Traps can provide temporary relief from REMOVING AN INDIVIDUAL YELLOW- ets can be men- yellowjackets, however individual JACKET FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE Wacing creatures when it comes yellowjackets can sometimes escape to a showdown over the picnic If you are not hypersensitive to traps. There are a number of traps on yellowjacket stings: the market, some disposable and table. In years when the spring • don’t aggravate the yellowjacket by others reusable. Experiment to find the is warm and dry, yellowjacket swatting at it, trap or traps that work best for you. populations can increase to • wait until it lands on a flat surface, • Follow label directions for setting the point of making outdoor • place a glass or plastic container over traps, disposing of trapped yellow- activities difficult. But few the insect, jackets, and cleaning and reusing traps that are reusable. people are aware that yellow- • slide a stiff piece of paper under the jackets are voracious predators opening of the container, and • Place a number of the traps around the periphery of your yard or picnic of insect pests such as caterpil- • seal the container and place it in area to lure the yellowjackets away the freezer overnight to kill the lars and flies. from your activities and food. yellowjacket or take it outside and release the insect. • Set the traps out a few hours before IDENTIFICATION AND bringing food outdoors so the insects If you are finding many yellowjack- DETECTION change their foraging patterns. ets inside, you may have a nest in a Yellowjackets are a type of wasp but wall void. • If one of the traps is not attracting they are often mistaken for bees. Some- yellowjackets, move it. If you set out times they are confused with other less DESTROYING NESTS several traps and none of them are aggressive predatory wasps, especially Because of the danger of multiple attracting yellowjackets even paper wasps. Yellowjackets are stings, we strongly recommend calling though they are present, try chang- relatively short and stout compared to your local vector control district or a ing the bait. Use baits such as tuna- paper wasps. Paper wasps have longer private company for information and flavored cat food in the spring and more slender bodies and long dangling assistance. early summer. Try using grenadine legs. Yellowjacket nests are spherical or the attractants that come with the Yellowjackets build nests in abandoned and are enclosed in a papery envelope traps in late summer and fall. rodent burrows and other holes in the with a small entrance hole at the ground, in attics, in wall voids, in OISON AITING bottom. Paper wasp nests are usually P B shrubs and trees. Sometimes they hang suspended from eaves or porch ceilings As a last resort in years when yellow- their nests from eaves. and look like tiny umbrellas filled with jacket populations are extremely high, hexagonal cells. poison baiting may be necessary. Call a pest control professional.

29 PREVENTION yellowjackets. This is especially true if • Wear protective clothing when the nest has been disturbed before. mowing grass where you suspect • Seal holes and cracks in foundations, underground nests. walls, roofs, and eaves to prevent yellowjackets from entering your home. AVOIDING STINGS • If you are hypersensitive to yellow- jacket stings, avoid outdoor cooking • Cover attic and crawl space vents When a yellowjacket approaches: or eating. Hypersensitive people with fine mesh insect screen. • Remain calm should wear clothing that covers as • Do not strike at a yellowjacket with • Yellowjackets scavenge for meat and much skin as possible, and carry an sharp, sudden blows. Slow, gentle sweet foods and drinks in outdoor gar- epinephrine kit (available by motions that mimic the movement of bage and recycling bins. Clean prescription) at all times. recyclables before storing them. Keep a branch in the breeze will be safer in • Outdoors, do not drink soft drinks garbage cans clean and tightly covered, encouraging the yellowjacket to leave. or other sugary drinks from open or seal all food garbage in plastic bags. • You can brush the yellowjacket off containers. Use cups with lids and with a piece of paper or some other straws, and look before you sip. Do WHY YELLOWJACKETS object as long as you move slowly not carry snacks containing meat or and deliberately. STING sugar in open containers. • Do not squash a yellowjacket. When Yellowjackets seldom sting when they • Do not wear perfumes. Use crushed, many yellowjacket species are foraging for food, unless they feel unscented deodorant, sun screen, emit a chemical that can cause other threatened. They are, however, likely hair spray, etc. to attack when their nests are disturbed nearby yellowjackets to attack. • Avoid going barefoot, especially in by a direct blow or by vibrations that Yellowjackets can be a problem in May vegetation. are detected by the wasps inside. and June, but they are most noticeable Mowing the lawn near an underground and annoying late in the summer. • Always examine wet towels or wet nest, construction work near a nest in During yellowjacket season, the follow- clothing before you pick them up a wall void, or even walking near a nest ing tips will help prevent stings. outdoors. can provoke an attack by one or more • Wear light-colored clothing without patterns.

PRODUCTS Examples of trade names for products listed in this fact sheet Traps: • Rescue! Yellowjacket (disposable) • Rescue! Trap (reusable) • Victor Yellow Jacket Trap (use liquid bait such as apple juice) • Victor Yellow Jacket and Flying Insect Trap (use liquid bait such as apple juice) • Seabright Yellow Jacket and Wasp Trap (use solid bait such as tuna catfood); (800) 284-7363; www.seabrightlabs.com

30 HOW TO CONTROL WEEDSWEEDS

t is unrealistic to think that Some commonly available garden It is very important to prevent weeds we can have a garden or a plants are actually invasive weeds that from going to seed. If you can reduce can "escape" from our gardens into the number of weed seeds in and lawn that is entirely weed- wildlands. Don't use these plants and around your garden, you have won half Ifree. We need to manage weeds remove any from your yard (see "Don't the battle. so they don’t become an over- Plant a Pest!" brochure from Cal-IPC; www.cal-ipc.org). HAND WEEDING whelming problem. This means Weeds are easiest to pull when they are tolerating some weeds in some WEEDS CAN BE fairly small and when the soil is moist, situations. If you really want to BENEFICIAL, TOO but not wet. There are a number of use- solve your weed problem, you ful weeding tools for sale, and gloves will Deep-rooted weeds such as thistles, protect your hands. Any weeds you pull will need to spend some time, pigweeds, and nightshades can bring up (or cut off) can be used as mulch have some patience, and ex- up minerals from the subsoil that are around desired plants or can be pend some effort. then deposited in the topsoil when composted, as long as they have not yet the plants die and decompose. Deep flowered and are not the kind that repro- roots can open pathways for water WHAT IS A WEED? duce from plant fragments, tubers, or bulbs. and for roots of less aggressive plants. Once weeds flower, there is a danger A weed in the garden is usually a plant Weeds in the sunflower (Asteraceae), that seeds will mature on the plants growing in the wrong place. This in- parsley (Apiaceae), and mustard even after they are pulled. cludes not only plants we normally (Cruciferae) families produce flowers think of as weeds, such as the dande- that feed beneficial insects with their With established perennial weeds, con- lion, but also the tens of tomato seed- nectar and pollen. centrate on digging up the roots or lings coming up in the worm compost depriving them of energy. If you can- we’ve spread on a flower bed. NON-CHEMICAL not dig up the roots, cut the plant down to the ground. Cover the area with STRATEGIES FOR INVASIVES thick mulch, and if plants send up new CONTROLLING WEEDS shoots, cut them down again. Don’t There are, however, a number of non- To solve your weed problems in the long allow the plants to flower, produce new native plants that are very serious pests. run, you must make the habitat in leaves, or go to seed. With no leaves When these plants are introduced into which weeds are growing inhospitable to produce energy, the roots will even- natural areas, they overwhelm native to them. In general, weeds prefer bare tually use up their reserves and be un- vegetation and degrade the environ- soil with lots of light; therefore, keep able to produce new shoots. ment for wildlife and humans alike. the soil in between your plants covered The worst of these invasive plants are WATER MANAGEMENT with mulch that excludes light from the classified as noxious weeds, and the soil. Patch cracks in paving, or fill cracks Prevent weeds from growing by keeping government spends millions of dollars with special caulking compounds de- the soil too dry to support plants. Drip every year to remove them. signed for asphalt or concrete. irrigation systems with drip emitters de- liver water only to desirable plants.

31 MULCHING Weed control fabric, black plastic, or CULTIVATION A thick layer of mulch deprives weeds layers of cardboard and newspapers are Cultivation is using a tool, like a and their seeds of light. Organic excellent for large areas with very vig- shovel, hoe, or rototiller, to turn the mulches, such as compost, leaves, saw- orous weeds. Place drip emitters in a soil or remove weeds. Cultivation can dust, straw, newspapers, and card- 12” grid on the soil under newspaper bring new weed seeds to the surface, board, have the added benefit of pro- and cardboard mulch to provide water disrupt the food web of soil organisms, viding organic matter for soil organ- to the roots of any desirable plants in and ruin soil structure, so use this tech- isms to feed on. Weed control fabric the area and to hasten the decomposi- nique sparingly. and black plastic will also exclude light tion of the weeds under the mulch. from weeds and their seeds. It is im- Cover these “sheet” mulches with MOWING portant to understand that mulches wood chips or another organic mulch. Mow weeds or cut them with a weed- only prevent weeds that are under Use sawdust mulch only where you whacker before they produce flowers them from growing. Most organic don’t want anything to grow (e.g., in a or go to seed. mulches provide a good growing me- pathway) because decomposing saw- dium for weed seeds that blow in on dust temporarily depletes nitrogen from LESS-TOXIC HERBICIDES top of the mulch, but you can more the soil surface and makes it hard for Products containing clove oil (Burn easily pull weeds growing in mulch plants to survive. Out II) or soap (Concern Fast Acting than in soil. Weeds will also grow on Weed Killer) will kill the above ground All organic mulches deteriorate over top of weed fabric or plastic once portions of weeds, but will leave roots time, some more rapidly than others. enough soil or organic matter has ac- that may resprout. Plants will be most Be sure to replenish them as they de- cumulated. susceptible when they are young. To compose. The particle size of the mulch will de- kill older annual weeds or tough pe- termine the depth of the application. COMPETITIVE PLANTING rennials, you will most likely have to Apply coarse-textured mulches, such Vigorous ground covers and plants with repeat the herbicide application a as bark and wood chips, 4” deep for dense foliage can shade the ground number of times. weed control. Apply fine-textured enough that weed seeds have difficulty Caution: When spraying any kind of mulches, such as shredded leaves or dry germinating. Lawns that are cut high will herbicide, protect desired plants from grass clippings, about 2” deep. Keep all be able to shade out most weeds. When coming into contact with the spray. Do mulches several inches away from the you remove weeds from a lawn, sprinkle not spray on windy days. Prevent stems of plants or the trunks of trees some grass seed in the spot so that lawn people and pets from having access to and shrubs to prevent disease. rather than weeds will fill the hole. the area until the material has dried.

32 PESTICIDESPESTICIDES AND WATER POLLUTION

ommonly used pesti- mental Protection Agency (EPA) listed • Pyrethroids: Many diazinon and cides can be harmful to 85 California waterbodies as “im- chlorpyrifos products have been re- people, pets, and the paired” due to diazinon. placed with formulations using pyre- throids. As a result, the use of syn- environment.C Part of the prob- And in 2000, because of growing con- thetic pyrethroids in pesticide prod- cerns about the effects these chemicals lem is the toxicity of some pes- ucts has nearly tripled in just the last have on human health, EPA an- few years. Pyrethroids are used in ticides, but even more important nounced an agreement with pesticide hundreds of products including pes- is the sheer volume of pesticides manufacturers to remove most prod- ticides used outdoors on lawns or for used in this country every year. ucts containing chlorpyrifos and spraying the perimeters of houses. Much of it finds its way to our diazinon from retail store shelves and water, air, and soil. Studies show to end most residential and profes- Pyrethroids are broad-spectrum, long-lived synthetic chemicals that that the most commonly used sional uses by the end of 2004. Gener- ally, since January 2005 professionals interfere with the function of the pesticides are the ones most have virtually stopped using these two nervous system. Designed to kill a likely to cause water pollution. pesticides in residential areas. In spite wide variety of insect pests, (such as ants, cockroaches, and lawn grubs) Who applies all these chemicals? of sales of these products being discon- tinued, residents may still be using old they are also highly toxic to fish, You might think that farmers are supplies — potentially causing the aquatic insects, crustaceans, and the mainly responsible for pesticide same problems that led to their re- beneficial insects (such as ladybugs, problems, but more than half of moval from the market. lacewings, and earthworms), that California pesticide use is in ur- keep pest populations under control Water quality agencies urge the public naturally. Beneficial insects are of- ban areas — by residents, home not to use pesticides that contain chlor- ten far more sensitive to pesticides gardeners, and pest control pro- pyrifos (Dursban) or diazinon. Instead, than the pests you might be trying fessionals in and around schools, dispose of them at a household hazard- to kill. Once pesticides eliminate the businesses, and homes. ous waste facility (see below). beneficial insects, pests are free to multiply without a natural check. The Our Water, Our World program was NEW THREATS TO WATER Products containing pyrethroids have developed in 1997 by clean water agen- QUALITY ingredient names typically ending in cies in response to pollution problems Chemical pesticides designed to re- “-thrin,” including: permethrin, caused by two of the most commonly place these banned pesticides are avail- bifenthrin, cyfluthrin (including used residential pesticides at that able, but substituting another toxic beta-cyfluthrin), cypermethrin, time — chlorpyrifos (Dursban) and chemical won’t help the environment. deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, diazinon. Both stormwater runoff and With the phase-out of diazinon and and tralomethrin (one exception is wastewater treatment plant discharges chlorpyrifos, pesticide products have esfenvalerate). The pyrethroids contained levels of these two pesticides either been replaced or reformulated resmethrin and tetramethrin are used that were high enough to kill aquatic using other chemicals (referred to as less widely outdoors so are not as big organisms at the bottom of the food “active ingredients”), including: a threat to water quality; however, web. In fact, in1998 the U.S. Environ-

33 NEW THREATS TO WATER WHAT SHOULD YOU DO • Try to keep your garden healthy and QUALITY, CONT. IF YOU HAVE UNWANTED your home pest-free without resort- ing to chemical pesticides. Remem- they are present in aerosol products, PESTICIDE PRODUCTS which disperse chemicals in a way ber that when you apply pesticides, that significantly increases the risk of AROUND THE HOUSE? you are treating the symptom, rather exposure to unintentional targets — If you have unwanted or leftover pesti- than the cause of pest problems. including people and pets. cides, do not pour them in ANY drain Physical barriers (window screens and caulking to keep pests out), bio- • Malathion and Carbaryl (Sevin): inside or outside your house. Do not put logical controls (introducing ben- Although these pesticides have been pesticides in the trash. Instead, take them eficial insects), and cultural con- available for many years, with the dis- to a household hazardous waste collection trols (keeping a clean house and a continuation of diazinon, their use facility or event. Call 1-800-CLEANUP healthy garden that attracts benefi- has increased. These chemicals, twice or visit www.ourwaterourworld.org/ _ cial insects) are always preferable to as toxic in salt water as in fresh wa- disposal info.cfm for times and locations chemical pesticides. In situations ter, are already detected frequently in in your community. Empty five-gallon or where a pesticide is necessary, how- urban and suburban waterways across smaller containers with no free-flowing ever, the best products for the envi- the country. They are also water liquid may be put in the trash. ronment are less toxic, less persistent, soluble — meaning rain and over- and more targeted on pests and not on watering can easily cause them to HOW CAN YOU BOTH beneficial insects and plants. wash off lawns and gardens and en- MANAGE PESTS AND HELP ter storm drains and local waterways. PROTECT THE HEALTH OF • Avoid wearing insect-repellent clothing. EPA recently found that PYRETHRINS VS. PYRETHROIDS PEOPLE, PETS, AND OUR wearing clothing treated with Unlike long-lived synthetic pyrethroids, ENVIRONMENT? permethrin (a synthetic pyrethroid) natural pyrethrins are short-lived pes- • Follow the suggestions for less-toxic more than once a year could in- ticides made from chrysanthemum pest control and pest prevention in the crease cancer risks. flowers. Though natural pyrethrins are Our Water, Our World fact sheet se- less persistent in the environment than ries that can be found online at the synthetic pyrethroids, they are still www.ourwaterourworld.org and in toxic to birds, fish, and beneficial in- participating stores. sects until they break down after a few • Another source of information on hours in sunlight. Take steps to prevent pest control alternatives is the Uni- pyrethrins from running off to a street, versity of California Statewide IPM gutter, or storm drain. Program at http://ucipm.ucdavis.edu.

34 USE AND DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDESPESTICIDES

ven when applied ac- IF YOU MUST USE health could depend on it. The use cording to label directions, PESTICIDES: of gloves, for example, is not in- tended to avoid staining your hands; pesticides make their • Identify the pest and the afflicted rather, it offers protection against Eway into our waterways, air, rain plant, and then choose a product having the chemicals enter your and fog. Even small amounts of labeled for use on that pest and blood stream through your skin. plant. Not all pesticides are effective • Homeowners who apply pesticides pesticides can be lethal to ma- against all pests. rine life, birds, and other life outdoors (including applications on • Aerosols may be the worst option lawns) can unknowingly carry residues forms. Just one granule or seed you can choose for pest problems. into their home on clothing and shoes. treated with diazinon, a com- They disperse chemicals in a way Pets can also be carriers. Be mindful mon household pesticide, is that significantly increases the risk that residues, whether tracked in from of exposure to unintentional targets, enough to kill a small bird. So outdoors or as a result of indoor use, including beneficial insects, birds, can contaminate carpets and floors what can we do? Instead of re- pets, you and your family. where children play. lying on conventional pesti- • Choose the least-toxic product cides as our first line of defense available. Baits and traps are safer SIGNAL WORDS against a pest, consider them as options. • Spot treat whenever possible. Caution, Warning, and Danger a last resort. Check out the are signal words placed on prod- other fact sheets in this series • Buy ready-to-use products instead of concentrates. An undiluted pesticide uct labels to alert consumers to for tips on safer and effective that requires mixing is more hazard- the relative toxicity of the prod- alternatives for preventing and ous than one that is already diluted. ucts — Caution being the least And, ready-to-use products avoid toxic and Danger being the most managing pest problems in your toxic. These signal words, how- home and garden. For more in- the use of measuring and mixing that could result in spills. When rinsing ever, pertain only to the acute or formation, contact the sources a pesticide from measuring cups, ap- immediate hazard of the product. listed on the reverse side of this plicators or containers, use the rinse Labels do not provide information fact sheet. as you would the pesticide — for the about the chronic or long-term target pest. Don’t wash it down a hazards to humans, animals or the drain. (See Proper Disposal section.) environment. For example, noth- ing on the product label tells you • Read the label and use only the whether a product contains a amount recommended to do the chemical suspected of causing job. More is not better. birth defects, kidney or liver dam- • If the label instructs you to use pro- age, cancer, lung disease, etc. tective gear, heed the advice — your

35 • Never remove the labels. INERT INGREDIENTS • Clearly mark containers, applicators Inert ingredients (called “inerts” or “other ingredients” on product labels) can and utensils used for mixing or ap- comprise up to 99.9% of a pesticide product. Contrary to what the name im- plying pesticides and store them with plies, inerts are not necessarily safe chemicals — nor have they necessarily the pesticides. Never use them for been tested for any long-term health implications like cancer, nervous system any other purpose. damage, reproductive harm, or gene mutations. If you want to try to avoid exposure to chemicals suspected of causing long-term health impacts, select DISPOSE OF PESTICIDES pest control products that are non-toxic (e.g., traps), those that offer the least SAFELY AND LEGALLY amount of pesticide exposure (e.g., baits), or those that offer the least toxic • Unwanted pesticides should be chemical (e.g., horticultural oil). For more information on choosing the least- brought to your local household haz- toxic pest control product available, refer to the other fact sheets in this series ardous waste collection program. In or contact the organizations listed in this fact sheet. For more information on California, it’s illegal to dispose of par- inert ingredients, go to: www.pesticide.org. tially used containers of pesticides (or any hazardous waste) in the trash, in spite of what the label says. It is legal to dispose of empty (no free-flowing purchased from grocery stores. For KNOW WHAT YOU’RE liquid) pesticide containers in the trash more information about pesticides in BUYING if they are 5 gallons or less in capacity. food, go to: www.foodnews.org (En- • Just because a product is purchased vironmental Working Group); or • Never dispose of pesticide-tainted over-the-counter, doesn’t mean that it call the Natural Resources Defense water in any indoor or outdoor has been tested for its ability to cause Council at (415) 777-0220. drain. Though indoor drains flow to long-term health or environmental treatment plants, pesticides can pass • If you have any questions about the damage. In 2001, the U.S. Environmen- right through the plants and enter safety, environmental impact, or tal Protection Agency worked with local waterways. Water used to rinse proper use of a pesticide, call the Na- product manufacturers to remove the out a sprayer or applicator should be tional Pesticide Information Center pesticide Dursban (or chlorpyrifos) applied like the pesticide. In most 24-hour hotline at (800) 858-PEST, from being sold because of its toxicity communities, outdoor drains flow www.npic.orst.edu. to children. Chlorpyrifos was first reg- directly to local waterways. istered for sale in 1965. Diazinon, a STORING PESTICIDES • Never use or give away any pesticide close relative, will be removed from that is no longer available in the stores shelves by 2005 — also because AND APPLICATION marketplace such as chlordane, of its toxicity to children. It has been EQUIPMENT DDT, and chlorpyrifos (Dursban). registered for sale since 1956. • Store pesticides in their original con- • For more information on pesticide • Research has shown that pesticide tainers, in a place that cannot be disposal, call 1-800-CLEANUP or residues are detected on many foods accessed by children or pets. visit: www.1800CLEANUP.org.

36 GROWING A HEALTHYHEALTHY GARDENGARDEN TO MANAGE PESTS NATURALLY

healthy garden filled check. As pest populations rise, you grow. It’s easier to plant a compatible with a wide variety may be tempted to spray more fre- species for your site than to try to alter quently, but pesticides leave geneti- the growing conditions. of flowering plants cally resistant strains of pests to breed, • Understand the soil conditions in Awill be more resistant to signifi- creating an increasingly resistant pest your yard. Soil conditions must cant pest damage. A healthy, di- population. The harder it becomes to match the requirements of your verse garden will also attract kill the pest, the more you’ll need to plants. For example, some plants are spray and the fewer natural enemies beneficial creatures, such as well adapted to salty or compacted you’ll have to help you out. soil or soil with poor drainage. dragonflies, ladybugs, lacewings, • Provide food and water for the • Know the sun and shade character- syrphid flies, and “miniwasps,” adult forms of beneficial insects. istics of your garden. Consider times which feed on pests. Although many beneficial insects of day and different seasons. perform their pest control services • Know that watering requirements differ only during an immature stage, the depending upon the soil and plant type. ATTRACTING AND adult stage feeds on nectar and pol- len. You can attract and keep a wide • Select pest- and disease-resistant KEEPING BENEFICIAL plants. INSECTS variety of beneficial insects in your garden by including flowering plants • Don’t plant invasive species (some are • Become familiar with what benefi- that are rich in pollen and nectar. available as garden plants), and re- cial insects look like in their various The box on the back page lists a move those growing on your property forms of development. Many people number of these “insectary” plants. (see “Don’t Plant a Pest!” brochure kill ladybugs in their larval form Some adult beneficial insects also from Cal-IPC; www.cal-ipc.org). without realizing it. Other bugs suf- need water from dew, irrigation, or • Plant a diversity of species. Include fer the same fate. Go to www.ipm. other sources to sustain them dur- native plants and plants from other ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html to ing dry periods. Mediteranean climates. This ensures see what these garden predators look that a single pest problem will not like as "babies" and adults! CHOOSING THE devastate your entire landscape. • Reduce or eliminate the use of RIGHT PLANT • To attract and keep beneficial in- broad-spectrum pesticides in your One of the most important preventive sects, include “insectary” plants in garden. Bees and other beneficial in- steps in the pest management process your landscape (see box on back). sects are often far more sensitive to is selecting appropriate plants for a • You can get help in choosing the pesticides than the pests you might particular location. Usually we choose right plants from California Certified be trying to kill. Once pesticides plants for their beauty, but to minimize Nursery Professionals, University of eliminate the beneficial insects, pests pest problems, consider other plant California Cooperative Extension are free to multiply without a natural characteristics and the site where it will Master Gardeners, Horticultural

37 CHOOSING THE RIGHT stem or trunk and cover the root PLANT, CONT. crown. A continually moist root INSECTARY PLANTS Consultants, ISA Certified Arborists crown can cause rot. The flowers on these and many other (see the Yellow Pages index), Cali- • Since a young plant doesn’t have an plants have nectar and pollen that fornia Invasive Plant Council, or lo- extensive root system, it can dry out are accessible to beneficial insects. cal gardening clubs. Also, see the quickly. Water thoroughly and keep the Aster (Aster) books recommended on the back soil moist, but don’t drown the plant. Baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) side of this fact sheet. • Cover bare soil with mulch. Mulch Calendula (Calendula) conserves soil moisture so plants don’t Calif. lilac (Ceanothus) PLANTING AND CARING dry out as quickly. A four-inch layer of Calif. poppy (Eschscholzia californica) FOR YOUR PLANTS mulch will prevent most annual weeds Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) from growing, and any weeds that do Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum) Start your plants out right by choosing sprout can be pulled out more easily. Coriander (Coriander sativum) healthy specimens and planting them Cosmos (Cosmos) • Use a mulch of leaves, bark, or properly. Keep your plants healthy by Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis) composted manure and/or garden correctly watering, pruning, and fertil- Dill (Anethum graveolens) waste to provide organic matter to izing them (if needed). Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) the soil and a slow, steady flow of • Before you buy a plant, ask to examine Fleabane (Erigeron) nutrients to plants. the roots. Do not buy plants with roots Holly-leaved cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) that are kinked or circling the con- • Use slow-release chemical fertilizers Monkey flower(Mimulus) tainer. Also check the “root crown,” only if soil testing indicates a spe- Native buckwheat (Eriogonum) the region where the roots meet the cific deficiency. Pincushion flower (Scabiosa) stem or trunk. Don’t buy the plant if • Different plants require different Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) that area is soft, rotten, or deformed. kinds of pruning (if they need it at Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia) • Don’t pile soil around the plant any all). Learn how and when to prune Sunflower (Helianthus) higher than the root crown. Don’t your plants, and do so judiciously. Sweet alyssum* (Lobularia maritima) plant in a depression that will allow Severe pruning can damage the plant Tidy-tips (Layia platyglossa) water to wash soil down around the and encourage pests and diseases. Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) Yarrow (Achillea) Zinnia (Zinnia) RECOMMENDED READING *Do not plant on or near coastal bluffs. Can be invasive. • The Best of Fine Gardening: Healthy Soil by the editors of Fine Gardening magazine, published 1995 by Taunton Press, Newtown, CT; (800) 888-8286. • California Master Gardeners’ Handbook published 2002 by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Berkeley, CA. • Natural Enemies Handbook by Mary Louise Flint and Steve H. Dreistadt, published 1998 by University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Berkeley, CA. • Sunset Western Garden Book, Sunset Publishing, 2001.

38 FINDING A COMPANY THAT CAN PREVENTPREVENT PESTPEST PROBLEMSPROBLEMS

less-toxic options, such as those f you have a pest problem, DOING YOUR PART you may be able to solve it discussed below. A company that For any pest control to work, you offers less-toxic pest control or IPM yourself with the help of the must do your part. If the pest con- should use conventional chemicals Iresources listed at the end of this trol company makes recommenda- for only a fraction of their jobs. fact sheet. However, if you want tions about cleanup, home repairs, • Inspection — Ask how the com- or need to hire a professional pest or other steps you should take to pany will find out how the pests are help prevent pest problems, make control service, look for a com- entering, where they are hiding, sure you follow their instructions. what’s attracting them, and what pany that offers less-toxic pest they are eating. A less-toxic ap- control or Integrated Pest Man- may believe they cost more. However, proach will begin with a thorough in- agement (IPM). IPM focuses on less-toxic pest management pays for spection to determine why you have long-term prevention of pests itself in the long term because it treats a pest problem, as well as the extent of the problem. The key to effective and their damage through a the underlying problem (why you have pests); conventional controls typically pest control is detailed information combination of techniques such treat just the symptoms. about the pest. It is very difficult to as habitat modification, biologi- control a pest if the company doesn’t cal control, and physical control. ASK BEFORE YOU HIRE know specifically what species it is. The company should also ask you When you first contact a company, tell Pesticides are used only if truly whether anyone living in the house them that you are concerned about the necessary and are selected to be is pregnant, less than one year old, use of pesticides and would like them chemically sensitive, asthmatic or effective against a specific pest to use only less-toxic pest control elderly, and whether you have pets. while minimizing risks to you, methods. Some companies may try to your family and pets, wildlife, convince you that chemical sprays are • Habitat modifications — Ask what the company will do to prevent a beneficial insects, and our envi- safe and more effective. Be persistent. Find out to what extent a company re-infestation of the pest. Since ronment. IPM is a common you’re considering uses non-chemical pests need food, water, and shelter sense preventative approach and approaches to pest control and how it to survive, eliminating or reducing is less toxic than conventional would approach your particular prob- one of these via habitat modification lem. Here’s what to look for: (for example, by caulking cracks, spraying. IPM methods are based screening holes, and replacing door on extensive scientific research. APPROACH thresholds) will reduce the pest population. Studies have demonstrated that using • Ask if they are willing to do pest con- less-toxic pest management or IPM trol without sprays. Their response • Other physical controls — Physical saves money compared to conventional will help you determine their philo- controls may be used to trap or kill pest control. Because the initial costs sophical approach to pest control. the pest, not just modify its habitat. are typically higher, companies that • Discuss various methods and de- Physical controls include vacuuming haven’t adopted less-toxic approaches termine if the company provides up pests or using traps or barriers.

39 APPROACH, CONT. job and will use it only in the areas to make sure the control is working • Biological controls — Some com- where the pests are a problem. and to change it if necessary. panies will use other organisms, such Conventional chemicals • References — Interview several companies. Ask for and contact as beneficial nematodes or lacew- • Ask for copies of labels and “mate- references. ings, to control certain pests. rial safety data sheets” (or “MSDS”) • Horticultural controls — Horticul- for any pesticide a company plans • Licensing and training — Make tural controls involve how the yard to use in your home or yard. sure the company and on-site tech- nicians are registered and licensed. and garden are cared for. For ex- • Ask if the company uses chemical ample, plants produce less top pesticides only as a last resort. If • Claims — Be cautious if a company growth if fed a slow-release or or- the pesticide applicator is going to claims it uses “safe pesticides” or ganic fertilizer — making them less spray, look for someone who will “safe chemicals.” Pesticides can be attractive to certain pests. Good spray selectively to reach the target applied safely, but no pesticide (even horticultural practices are impor- pest and won’t spray the whole yard a less-toxic one) is entirely safe. tant, since a healthy lawn and gar- or the entire perimeter of your home. “Odorless” does not mean safe. Be den will naturally resist or outgrow cautious of claims that a company • Ask to see a copy of the “service most pest damage. can control “ALL insects.” If they ticket” they will use. Check to make claim to control all insects, you can CHEMICAL CONTROLS sure the following will be on it: tar- be sure they are using a broad-spec- get pest, name of any pesticides used Less-toxic chemical controls trum pesticide that will kill even ben- and their EPA registration number • Ask how the company makes de- eficial insects such as ladybugs, hon- (for non-food-grade products), how cisions about when, where, and eybees, and butterflies. much pesticide was applied and what (if any) pesticides to use. A where and when it was applied. • Contracts — Be cautious of the less-toxic pest control service will monthly service contract. A less- • If the company must use a chemical not spray routinely and, if it sprays toxic approach should ALWAYS spray, ask it to post the areas to be at all, will only spray where the pest include regular monitoring of pest treated with warning signs or is a problem. Chemical sprays should populations but NEVER calendar flags — prior to the treatment and not be used to prevent infestations. applications of pesticide — whether for 72 hours afterwards. • Look for a company that chooses or not you have a pest problem. Do less-toxic chemicals such as bo- • Monitoring — Discuss the actions not authorize any pest treatment rates or boric acid, diatomaceous the company will take if pests re- without reading and signing a de- earth (DE), insecticidal soaps, hor- occur. Monitoring is important: tailed written contract. when less-toxic pest controls are ticultural oils, and those contained • Records and reporting — Ask the used, insects will die back gradually in bait stations. A capable provider company to provide you with regu- instead of all at once as they do with of less-toxic pest management or lar reports, including an inspection conventional pesticides. The com- IPM will select the most effective, report with a specific pest identifi- pany should place monitors around least toxic chemical to complete the cation and monitoring reports. the home and check them regularly

40 LEARN MORE ABOUT PESTICIDES AND SAFER ALTERNATIVES

BOOKS The Gardener’s Guide to Common-Sense Pest Control, William Olkowski, Taunton Press, 1995. The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control, Barbara Ellis, Rodale Press, 1996. Organic Pest and Disease Control: How to Grow a Healthy, Problem Free Garden, Barbara Ellis, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. Controlling Pests and Diseases, Patricia S. Michalak, Rodale Press, 1994.

MAIL ORDER HOUSES Peaceful Valley Farm Supply http://groworganic.com (888) 784-1722 (toll free) Gardens Alive www.gardens-alive.com (812) 537-8650 Extremely Green Gardening Company www.extremelygreen.com (781) 878-5397 Harmony Farm Supply www.harmonyfarm.com (707) 823-9125

WEBSITES/ORGANIZATIONS American Rose Society http://www.ars.org/ Audubon At Home “You Have a Choice” (415) 388-2524 (215) 355-9588 www.audubon.org/bird/athome/alternatives.html Beyond Pesticides (202) 543-5450 www.beyondpesticides.org Bio-Integral Resource Center (510) 524-2567 www.birc.org California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) www.cal-ipc.org California Native Plant Society www.cnps.org

41 WEBSITES/ORGANIZATIONS, CONT. Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center (650) 493-6072 www.commongroundinpaloalto.org Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA) www.cdpr.ca.gov Environmental Working Group www.foodnews.org Master Gardeners To see if a Master Gardener’s office is located in your community, check in the County Government section of your phone book under University of California Cooperative Extension; or, look under “Bug ID” in the Our Water – Our World website (see below). Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (541) 344-5044 www.pesticide.org Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment www.oehha.ca.gov/pesticides.html Our Water – Our World www.ourwaterourworld.org Pesticide Action Network (415) 981-6205 www.panna.org or www.pesticideinfo.org State Water Resources Control Board (CA) www.waterboards.ca.gov University of California www.ipm.ucdavis.edu or www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/WATER/U/index.html U.S.EPA www.epa.gov/pesticides

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TheThe HealthyHealthy HomeHome andand GardenGarden for You, Your Family, and Pets www.ourwaterourworld.org