Resources & Helpful Tips

Pests are here to stay, but they can be controlled if we use common sense to outwit them.

• Use a pesticide that is specifically designed to control your pest.  You should see the insect listed on the label.
   

• Read labels!  Use as directed.  In their zeal to control the problem, home gardeners are often guilty of over-applying pesticides and not wearing protective equipment.  The warnings and instructions are critical.
   

• Know your enemy!  If you don't know what the pest is, bring a sample of the pest and the damage it is causing in a closed jar to:

  • University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener Hotline (408) 299-2638

  • County Agricultural Commissioner (408) 299-2171

  • A reputable nursery
     

• How do I get rid of old pesticides?
   

• For information on pesticide safety, contact:

  • Poison Control Center (408) 299-5112

  • National Pesticide Telecommunications Network 24-hour hotline: 1-800-858-7378 for emergencies and information on health effects.

  • Citizen's Guide to Pesticides, EPA; R. Woods, Consumer Information Center, Y.P.O. Box 100, Pueblo, CO 81002. (50¢) Request #426X.

More Info About... There are many resources out there to help you: Household Hazardous Waste: Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Recycling & Disposal (408) 299-7300

Less-Toxic Products & Techniques:

Our Water Our World - Though not definitive the following offers a list of products that are considered to be non-toxic or less toxic alternatives to conventional pesticides. No endorsement of specific brand name products is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products that are not mentioned.

Please click on one of the following
Products sorted alphabetically.
Products sorted by pests.(Also includes cultural controls, physical controls, biological controls, monitoring aids and reference materials.)

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
M-F, 9-noon 1005 Timothy Drive, San Jose, CA  95133
Master Gardener Hotline: (408) 299-2638

University of California Integrated Pest Management  (408) 792-5010

Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC)
Excellent resource for Integrated Pest Management (IPM);
pest-specific literature.  Small fee.  (510) 524-2567

Common Ground Garden Supply / Ecology Action Library and bookstore on organic gardening, IPM and less-toxic pest control.  (650) 493-6072

Choosing the Right Plants for Your Area:
Sunset Western Garden Book, Sunset Publishing
"required reading..."

University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)
(408) 299-2638
 

Santa Clara Valley Water District Tips for a Water-Wise Garden (408) 265-2600 Santa Clara County Vector Control Information on plants rodents don't like (408) 792-5010 California Native Plant Society (415) 962-9876

Local garden clubs - Call UCCE for referrals

Local reputable nurseries

In the Home:
County Health, Vector Control
Information on mosquitoes, flies, rodents, cockroaches, ticks
(408) 299-2050

Beneficial Insects:
Director of Producers of Natural Enemies of Common Pests, order from BIRC (510) 524-5267

Books and Brochures:
An Illustrated Guide to Organic Gardening,
Sunset Publishing

How to Grow Vegetables and Fruits by the Organic Method, Rodale Press

Tiny Game Hunting,
Klein and Wenner, Bantam Books

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm and Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, and other University of California literature, order through UCCE - 800-994-8849 or (510) 642-2431

Common-Sense Pest Control, and other BIRC literature (510) 524-2567

Suppliers of Beneficial Organisms in North America
Free.  Department of Pesticide Regulation (916) 324-4100

Links

Local/California IPM Links

• University of California Integrated Pest Managment Web Site

• Central Contra Costa Sanitary District - Less-Toxic Home Garden

• California School IPM Program

• California Environmental Protection Agency / Department of Pesticide Regulation

• Bio-Integral Resource Center

• Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County

• Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Recycling & Disposal

National IPM Links

• US Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Pesticide Programs

• National IPM Network

• New York State IPM Program

• National School IPM Site

• Bugged by Bugs - Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council

• EPA - Green Landscaping with Native Plants

• City of Seattle - The Green Gardening Program

• Backyard Wildlife Habitat

• EPA Green Landscaping

• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Resources by Project Area - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Landscaping

• State of Georgia - Home Landscaping