Partnering with the Landscaping Initiative

While pesticides can be useful, a variety of sustainable lawn care and landscaping tools and methods are available for managing pests including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the use of biopesticides. The Landscaping Initiative works with its partners to educate do-it-yourself homeowners, lawn care customers, retailers and consumers at point-of-sale, and schools and school districts about pest management alternatives and proper pesticide use. These partnerships are forged with the understanding, too, that our efforts all are interconnected regardless of their focus on a specific human health or enviromental issue.

Integrated Vegetation Management Practices (IVM)

EPA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Edison Electric Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of the Interior that will help establish sound Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) practices as the standard for utility rights-of-way management. Learn More >>

Who Can Partner with the Landscaping Initiative?
The Landscaping Initiative partners with PESP members and other stakeholders involved in lawn care and landscaping practices such as:

Residential and commercial pesticide applicators
Golf course industry associations and businesses
Parks and recreation organizations
Local, state, and federal governments agencies
Gardening industry associations and businesses
Environmental organizations and associations
Universities and extension services

For example, some of the Landscaping Initiative's partners include:

What Are the Landscaping Initiative and Its Partners Doing?
The Landscaping Initiative and its partners work to:

Increase sustainable lawn and landscaping practices throughout the United States
Help lawns and landscaping professionals and the general public transition to reduced-risk pesticides or pest reduction product

The Initiative and its partners have produced the following guidance documents:

Ten Guiding Principles for Responsible Lawn Care and Landscaping (PDF) (1 pp, 370K, About PDF) EPA's Landscaping Initiative participates in a coalition of landscaping, business, environmental, academic and governmental organizations known as the Lawns & the Environment Initiative (L&E). The 10 Guiding Principles are the basis for the L&E's education efforts.
Environmental Guidelines for Responsible Lawn Care and Landscaping (PDF) (28 pp, 425K, About PDF) This booklet produced by the Lawns & the Environment Initiative contains many examples and tips on how to implement the 10 Guiding Principles.
Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States This set of principles seeks to produce environmental excellence in golf course planning and siting, design, construction, maintenance and facility operations.
Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment: Caring for Your Lawn in an Environmentally Friendly Way (PDF) (19 pp, 5.4MB, About PDF) This EPA publication explains how to care for your lawn properly to enhance both its appearance and its environmental benefits.