L AWN CARE BY HANNAH GOOCH
GREEN PEST
SOLUTIONS for the Green Industry T
he time, money and effort you spend creating a beautiful landscape is all for nothing if pests make their way onto the property. What’s worse, many pest control solutions contain harsh chemicals that can eat away at landscape plantings and become harmful to welcomed wildlife. Luckily, you have options. SiteOne’s “Green Treatments” webinar hosted by Pat Ryan of Pesticide Distribution & Marketing outlined the potential hazards of traditional outdoor pest treatments and introduced green alternatives. For example, chemical run-off into lakes and streams or winds carrying sprayable treatments past their intended target areas can damage plants and animals, present health hazards for humans or become
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MARCH 2022
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ineffective as their target area was not met. In addition, using the wrong pesticide or treatment can be detrimental to people, wildlife and the landscape while being a waste of time and money. That’s why the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) stresses the importance of properly identifying the pest you are dealing with before applying pest management solutions. The best way to get rid of pests, though, is by preventing them in the first place. Being aware of what attracts pests can be crucial in avoiding infestations. Standing water, access to food and overgrown yards bring critters and insects of all kinds, including mosquitos and mice. Mice are a pest on their own, but they are not the main problem. Mice are often riddled with tick larvae and can spread ticks as they run through your
www.greenindustrypros.com
2/21/22 11:06 AM
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