Integrated Pest Management

What is integrated pest management (IPM)?

IPM involves paying attention to your landscape and managing it in a way that provides the best growing conditions for the plants you want. Healthy plants are less susceptible to pests like weeds and harmful organisms. This system is based on sustainable principles such as pest-resistant plants and natural sprays, crop rotation and beneficial insects.

Chemical pesticides are poisonous substances, harmful to plants, pets and children, and can pollute creeks, ponds, rivers and groundwater resources.

Controlling garden pests

Download the controlling garden pests guide (PDF) to learn about:

Keeping plants healthy
Choosing plants
Chemical pesticides: A last resort
Protecting sensitive areas
The secrets of chemical-free pest control
Managing gypsy moths
Natural enemies
Getting help

Ideas for around the home

Download the ideas around home guide (PDF) to learn about these easy ideas (and more!) for your home:

Seed bare soil and cover it with mulch as soon as possible
Keep leaves out of stormwater basins on the street
Hire services that follow water quality protection standards
Direct downspouts toward gardens or planted areas and away from driveways

Rethinking yard care

Rethink your gardening by aerating soil, leaving grass clippings on the lawn, composting yard waste and swapping chemical pesticides for natural sprays.

Download the yard care guide (PDF) to learn about:

The natural process
Incorporating natural areas in your yard
Proper application of yard care chemicals
Tips for a safer lawn

Landscaping near rivers and streams

Download landscaping near the water's edge guide (PDF) to learn about:

Using deep-rooted trees and vegetation
Reducing pollutants and erosion
Landscaping zones
Native Michigan plants
What's “native"?
Adding vegetation to the banks of water bodies
Aesthetics and maintenance of water's edge landscaping

Download a list (PDF) of native plants of Michigan and native wetland plants of Michigan.