How to Talk to Neighbors About Pesticides - Effectively!

Spring is in the air, which means that soon the lawn chemical trucks will be arriving to make their first applications in neighborhoods all over the country. Even though they may only be applied to your neighbors property, pesticides still effect all of us through drift and movement into the environment, even tracking into the homes of yards where they are not used.

How can we talk to neighbors about their lawn chemical services in a way that they might actually listen?

✅ Build a relationship - Get to know your neighbors before bringing up pesticides. Once someone knows you they will be more receptive to input.

✅ Approach them calmly - It's natural to be upset about the effects their pesticide use may be having on you or the environment in your neighborhood, but having a calm, rational conversation is the way to go.

✅ Ask questions - Here are a few suggestions:

• Do you ever ask your lawn company what they are putting on the lawn?
• Have you ever researched the ingredients in the pesticides you use?
• Would you switch to a different program if you knew it could give you the results you want?

✅ Be patient - It takes time for people to learn and change their minds. It's hard for most people to accept new information. Be gentle, and don't get impatient if they don't respond at first. Share a little here and there, and try not to overwhelm them.

✅ Share solutions - Have alternatives ready for them. Find resources here and here. Offer your neighbor a helping hand so they don't feel like they have to search for information.