Set your mower to cut at 2 to 2 inches. Collected lawn clippings can be an unwanted source of nitrogen for your yard. Limit pesticide use to allow natural enemies to thrive, helping to keep pest populations in check. Beneficial insect predators include ladybird beetles, ground beetles, praying mantises and dragonflies that consume many pests in their lifetime. Parasites, such as the trichogamma wasp, will generally consume one individual insect pest during its own lifetime.
Mechanical controls use physical disturbance to remove pests.
Till or hand-weed instead of using herbicides. Remove large insects by hand. Use mulch to cut down weed growth, reduce erosion and retain soil moisture. Chemical controls include natural and synthetic pesticides. Use lawn and garden chemicals carefully and sparingly.