The Nursery at Mount Si in North Bend is among two dozen regional nurseries recognized for having the best natural products and practices by Seattle and King County.

The Valley business made the 2009 list of natural yard care nurseries offering ecologically sound products, practices and education. These businesses strive to prevent the use of hazardous pesticides and chemicals by offering alternative solutions.

Seattle Public Utilities and the county’s Local Hazardous Waste Management Program use the list program to help residents reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals while still creating vibrant gardens.

“Many people are looking for ways to start or maintain environmentally-friendly gardens,” said Carl Woestwin, landscape conservation program manager at Seattle Public Utilities. “The 26 nurseries recognized this year offer natural yard care products, expert advice and more personalized service to promote healthy, sustainable gardens without harming the health of our families or the environment.”

Pesticides and chemicals pose a serious risk to both environmental and human health. Many pesticides are toxic to fish and other organisms in local bodies of water, and fertilizers can drastically reduce water quality.