Pesticides

Garden Clippings for July 3, 2021

Early this week an elderly couple came looking for garden dust.  They told Joleen, our helpful staff member that they wanted the same stuff they’ve always used.  Joleeen tried her best but was unable to satisfy.  She suggested alternatives, but to no avail.

I met the couple as they were leaving emptyhanded. “What am I to do about the squash bugs?” he asked.

“The world of pesticides has changed in the last decade” I explained.  I led the couple to the Crawling Insect Killer (diatomaceous earth) and assured them how the safe, organic insecticide will provide adequate control for their squash bugs.

It was April of 2009 when the province of Ontario introduced the Cosmetic Pesticide Act.  The lawn care industry raised a big stink against the Act, but now, more than a decade later, lawn care companies are surviving just fine.  They have adjusted their focus to strive for healthier lawns that minimize weed growth rather than applying chemicals to eliminate weed growth.

The Cosmetic Pesticide Act also tossed out a library of insecticides and fungicides.  In one fell swoop, the Act eliminated more than 250 pesticides including common household insecticides such as Cygon (dimethoate), Malathion, Diazinon, Sevin (carbaryl) and Solgard (chloropyrifos).  Garden supply stores knew they would be in for a rough ride trying to help their clients find remedies for garden pests, but we survived.

In the meantime, homeowners have learned a thing or two.  We have learned to tolerate a few aphids and we’ve learned that a lot of bugs are good bugs.

The Cosmetic Pesticide Act did not eliminate pesticides, but only banned them from cosmetic use.  Pesticides that serve to protect your health and safety are permitted, and retailers selling these controlled use pesticides are required to keep them out of public reach or under lock and key.

Examples of restricted use pesticides are wasp and hornet spray which protects the health and safety of our outdoor environment.  Roundup (glyphosate) is a restricted herbicide that is permitted for use against the likes of poison ivy, but not permitted to keep weeds and grasses out of cracks in sidewalks.

There is virtually no enforcement or penalty for misuse of pesticides.  To date, there have been less than 100 convictions levied against less than 50 individuals and companies, most of which have been in the lawn care business.

Retailers selling restricted pesticides are required to keep their “Class 7” controlled sale chemicals where they are not accessible, and consumers need to ask for assistance when making a purchase.  Retailers need to provide consumers with a paper handout indicating that the product is prohibited for certain uses.  But a recent trip to a local big box store revealed to me that the policy of “stack it high and watch it fly” is quite prevalent.

There are plenty exemptions within the Cosmetic Pesticide Act allowing golf courses, municipalities and farmers to carry on business albeit with restrictions.

Next week’s Garden Clippings will deal with available solutions that are safe and sensible for homeowner use.