Canadian pesticide bans prompt reports of more weeds, insect damage
6 Jun, 2010 Athletic Turf NewsAs predicted by many in the professional lawn care industry, the banning of the sale and use of common pest control products in much of Canada resulted in serious and, in some cases, costly 
damage to landscapes by weeds and insect pests.
“It’s been a year and a month since the McGuinty government introduced legislation banning the use of pesticides everywhere except golf courses and farms,” wrote Peter Shawn Taylor, in the National Post in mid May. “As a result weeds, primarily dandelions, have become the dominant ground cover for lawns, parks, school yards and sports fields across the province (Ontario).”
Taylor, who termed the McGuinty government’s decision to implement the ban as “entirely political,” and says that weeds in Ontario “are here to stay. Forever.” He describes the ban as “an enormous deadweight loss for the province.”
To read the article, “Keeping Ontario ugle,” please click here.
Kim Mackrael, in an article in the Guelph Mercury in May , reported that the lawns, parks and sports fields in that Ontario city were “teeming with dandelions.”
In the article, the reporter quoted a couple that said they kept the dandelions out of their yard by plucking weeds out by hand and by spraying them with a mixture of salt, vinegar and dish detergent.
Seasonal workers mow the city parks once every 10 business days in an attempt to chop the heads off of the dandelions before they go to seed. A city official is quoted in the article as saying that city residents are just going to have to get used to weeds in their parks. He described the weedy parks as “the new esthetic.”
Click here to read the article “Pesticide ban gives weeds the advantage in lawn battle,” click here.
Meanwhile, across the country on Canada’s west coast, in Vancouver and surrounding communities in British Columbia province, European chafer beetles, millions of them, did a number on 
home lawns, parks and sports fields. A lawn care professional in the town of Surrey said damage was in the millions and the lawns looked like “a Rototiller attacked them.” He as describing the damage caused by skunks, raccoons and birds that dug into the ground to feast on the chafer grubs.
Common lawn pesticides are banned in many of the communities suffering the grub damage, but nematodes and other “biofriendly” treatments are allowed. Where these don’t work, property owners are faced with the prospect of renovating or replacing their lawns entirely.
An environmental officer in one of the communities suggested in April that homeowners allow their lawns to growth to five to eight centimeters, which will help stop the beetles from laying their eggs in the soil. He said a grass lawn with a mix of clover would lessen egg laying, as well.
You can read the article “Grubby grubs ruining Metro lawns,” by clicking here.
Related articles:
"Groups push B.C. to ban cosmetic pesticide over health risks," by Tamara Baluja, The Province, June 4,
"Pesticides mean city parks not so green," by Will Verboven, The Calgary Herald, May 29
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