Lawn and Order

October 10, 2007

The Show

If you're not allowed to spray these chemicals on your lawn, why are they so easy to buy?

Seven years ago, the Halifax Regional Municipality passed a bylaw that made it illegal to use chemical pesticides in residential gardens. Dandelion killers, crab-grass killers, mushroom killers, broad-spectrum herbicides and many others were banned.

Health activists celebrated, thinking they were seeing the start of a new era. In a way, they were right. Today, 135 Canadian towns and cities have similar bans in place.

But here's the strange thing. Across the country, the flawlessly green lawn remains a common sight. Pesticide products that are illegal to use are still for sale. And, as Wendy Mesley's hidden-camera investigation reveals, some of the country's best-known stores are sending mixed messages.

October 10, 2007
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How to look after a lawn without chemicals

Avoiding chemical pesticides will probably mean putting up with the occasional weed. Still, there are a few things you can do to keep your green space looking its best.

  • Don't cut the grass too short. Growing it a little longer discourages the growth of weeds.
  • Overseed with clover. Clover mixed in a lawn makes it difficult for weeds such as dandelions to germinate.
  • Don't overwater. Overwatering encourages the growth of fungus, including unsightly mushrooms
  • Dig up weeds by hand, the old fashioned way.
  • Some "organic" weed-killer products are based on vinegar or soaps, and can be highly effective. These will also kill grass and desirable plants, however, so use them with caution if you use them at all.

October 10, 2007
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More about the chemicals and the products that contain them

The Toronto Environmental Alliance maintains a list of pesticide bans across the country. Here's a link to the list (PDF).

The most commonly-banned chemicals in Canadian municipalities with pesticide bylaws are these five:

  • 2,4-D (or 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), a broad-spectrum herbicide. (Wikipedia link)
  • Mecoprop, a broad-leaf herbicide commonly found in products that combine weedkiller with fertilizer. (Info sheet at inchem.org)
  • Dicamba, another broadleaf herbicide. (Wikipedia link)
  • Glyphosate, originally sold as "Roundup," now available under many brand names. (Wikipedia link)
  • Carbaryl, an insecticide commonly sold as "Sevin." (Wikipedia link)
The bylaws in your area may include chemicals not listed here, so check with your municipality if you're not sure about the legality of a particular product.

These are some of the products which may contain those commonly restricted chemicals:
  • Killex
  • Wilson Lawn WeedOut
  • WeedEx
  • RoundUp
  • Sevin Garden Dust Insecticide
  • Rose Doctor Insecticide and Fungicide

*Source: Toronto Pesticide Bylaw –Toronto Public Health.
(This is not a complete list. Toronto allows for these products to be used in certain situations.)

October 10, 2007
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Lawn and Order Credits

"Lawn And Order"

Producer
Catherine Clark

Senior Researcher
Marlene Mcardle

Additional Research
Robert Ballantyne

Editor
Robert Megna

Camera
Mark Bochsler
Ed Middleton

Sound
Dave Fox
Wayne Parsons

October 10, 2007
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