PROVINCIAL PESTICIDE REGULATION
On April 22, 2009 the Government of Ontario announced a ban
on cosmetic use of pesticides.
The provincial ban overrides all municipal pesticide by-laws.
For more information on specific products, please click
here.
Going
Pesticide-Free is the subject of seminars for
gardeners organized by Communities in Bloom and the Ministry
of the Environment. Click here for additional seminar dates and locations.
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BASICS
What is a pesticide?
Pesticides are biological or synthetic substances that control
insects, weeds, plant diseases and other pests. Pesticides can
include:
- Herbicides - products that control plants, weeds and grasses
- Fungicides - products that control fungal diseases
- Insecticides - products that control insects
| Suggestions for common lawn
and garden problems
Check with local lawn and garden centres for alternatives
products (ensure these products are on the
exemption list) or try some of the following
home remedies:
- Aphids: Plant chives and garlic to repel
aphids. If an infestation occurs, spray the plant's leaves
with a mixture of liquid soap and water;
- Protect plants from cutworms with collars-bits
of cardboard that circle the stem. This prevents them from
attacking the base of the plant;
- Trap earwigs in a hollow tube. Earwigs
will congregate in the tube overnight; clean out the trap
in the morning;
- Slugs: Hand pick slugs off your plants
or trap them in a saucer of beer placed in the garden with
the rim at soil level.
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 Pesticides
and the Environment
Pesticides often kill animals (such as frogs, earthworms, birds
and fish), soil bacteria and plants that they are not intended for.
Many of these organisms can be beneficial or necessary for a healthy
environment.
The Canadian Cancer
Society also suggests that there may be evidence that suggests
a positive association between exposure to certain pesticides and
some types of cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society also suggests that children may be
at higher risk due to rapid growth and development. Children also
often play in or near to the grass. Children whose parents work
with pesticides may have a higher risk of developing leukemia and
brain and kidney cancer.
What Can
YOU Do?
Tips for natural lawn and garden care:
- Add compost to your soil.
This will increase the presence of organic material improving
water retention and adding nutrients.
- Mulch. Using mulch can reduce
your gardens water needs by up to 70 percent. An added bonus
of mulch is that it controls weed growth. Cover all exposed
soil with wood chips.
- Choose hearty plants.
Pick plants that are native, pest and draught-resistant.
Almost all perennials are more water-efficient than annuals.
For more information on native, pest and draught-resistant
plants, check with a local garden centre.
- Water wisely.
Use a rain gauge. Water deeply and less often; ce a week
and 2.5 cm (one inch) at the most. Water at the right time
of day. Watering before 9:00 a.m. will keep evaporation
to a minimum. Use the right kind of sprinkler. Sprinklers
that shoot low to the ground are better than oscillating
fan type of sprinklers that lose much of their water to
evaporation and wind drift before it reaches the lawn.
- Mow High.
Raising your mower blades to a height of 7-8 cm will
promote better root growth for your lawn. Keep your mower
blade sharp and mow often enough that you don't take off
more than one third of the growth.
- Prevention.
Maintaining a healthy lawn is the best way to prevent weeds
and insects from becoming a problem.
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Additional links and resources:
The Canadian Cancer
Society
York Region Environmental
Alliance
Water
for Tomorrow
Organic
Landscape Alliance
TRCA
Healthy Yards Program
Green
Communities Canada, Pesticide Free Naturally
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