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Photo by: Kyla Sheehan

Figure 9.1 – Providing habitat for predatory ladybugs
can result in natural biological control of aphids.
Photo by: Sue Thomas on Unsplash

In Your Garden and Around
Your Property

• Reduce the chemicals you put into the • Select slow-release organic fertilizers to feed
environment: Pesticides, herbicides and your garden rather than concentrated chemical
fertilizers can cause serious environmental fertilizers that wash away into the environment .
damage . When washed into waterways, excess Composted kitchen scraps, manure and/or
fertilizer transforms healthy, clear, oxygen rich commercially available composts will feed your
streams into those choked with algae and not plants and improve your soil at the same time .
enough oxygen for fish to breathe . Pesticides • Reconsider lawns and landscaping that require
and herbicides are often harsh and persistent lots of fertilizer and water . Instead opt for perennial
chemicals that can kill or seriously harm fish shrubs and trees and take a natural landscaping
and their prey (Macneale et al . 2010) . While the approach as recommended by Green Shores .
commercial agriculture industry is the greatest Select native species that naturally thrive in our
source of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and climate and soil conditions, while protecting the
herbicides, the impacts of the landscaping shoreline from erosion and providing habitat for
done by individual homeowners along and insects and organisms . Visit your local native plant
near shorelines can add up . nurseries for resources and inspiration (Figure 9 .2) .
Here are some steps you can take to reduce • Avoid especially harmful pesticides: Salmon Safe
the impact of your landscaping: has put together guides and certification standards

• Manage garden pests through strategies that for homeowners, farmers and developers that can
don’t involve chemicals (see integrated pest be employed to keep salmon safe . They have
management – West Coast Seeds and compiled a list of chemical pesticides to avoid
Pestsense – WSU) such as crop rotation and that are especially hazardous . This list, along with
encouraging predatory insects like lady bugs . a number of helpful resources for reducing your
Manage weeds manually and embrace a few environmental impact, are posted in our online
harmless dandelions for the bees . Tool Kit .

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