Alternatives for a Healthy Puget Sound
By Liz Leavens

Alternatives for synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, & other chemicals are cost-effective & safe for salmon, other wildlife, & humans!

Arguably, the best decision to make about your yard is to reduce the amount of lawn & plant native plants, trees, & shrubs.  These plants require less maintenance. Nature friendly choices will cost less in the long run.

FERTILIZERS
Compost vegetables, fruit, coffee, tea bags, egg shells, shredded paper, leaves, grass clippings, soil & spread on your gardens, flowers, lawns. 
Use Non-synthetic fertilizers such as, AAA Grade Earthworm Castings-Wormsworth Inc., Bio-Grow by BioBizz, or Foster Farms Compost

PESTICIDE ALTERNATIVES

• Select native plants that are best adapted to their environments
• Attract predatory insects, such as ladybugs, lace wings, beetles, & praying mantis, by providing plants from the Carrot Family & other insectary plants of varying heights
• Intersperse plants unattractive to pests 
• Spray plants with hose to drown/dislodge insects
• Set out traps and tree bands
• Place screens over plants
• Wrap aluminum foil around plant bases
• Prune dead/diseased areas of plants
• Prune & mulch to maintain healthy plants
• Time plants to avoid peak infestation periods
• Record periods of insect attacks. This will help you be aware of when you need to be most vigilant

RECIPES FOR PEST CONTROL

• Mix 1 tb liquid dishwashing soap & 1 cup cooking oil. Mix with a quart of water & spray on plants.
• Soak citrus rind in water & spray on plants
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper or any other hot peppers around plants to deter mammals & other pests
• Peppermint & cinnamon will repel ants
• Peppermint will keep mice out
• Many gardeners use any strong smelling/hot to the taste herbs, spices, & other edibles such as garlic, parsnip roots, bell pepper, onion, etc. to repel pests
• Deter deer by hanging small amounts of soap in nylons or cheesecloth from trees
• Fabric softener sheets, sage, rosemary, garlic, basil, & even cat-nip repels mosquitoes.
• Add Brewer’s yeast to pet food as a flea repellant.
• Use cedar/pine chips instead of moth balls

Hopefully, when making decisions on how to maintain your home & yard you take the environment into consideration. This handout gives ideas on how to do that & there will be websites for more information. If these alternatives aren’t of interest, please follow these guidelines when applying chemicals:

• Since most insects are beneficial, identify before eliminating them
• Apply only to infected plants
• Never mix/spray chemicals near wells or water source
• Never mix/apply more that you need
• Avoid application before rain & on windy days
• Choose the appropriate pesticide for the job: target the right pest

• Dispose of chemicals properly: never down sinks, storm drains, or sewers

Here are a few websites with suggestions, recipes, & guidelines for healthier home maintenance:
www.urwa.org/learn/lawn.htm
www.salmonnation.com/tenTips/landscapers2.html
www.localmotion.org/greengrass.html
www.naturalfamilyonline.com/1-nl/411-natural-pest-control.htm
www.care2.com/channels/solutions/outdoors/88
www.envirolink.org
www.eartheasy.com
*Tips acquired from these websites*