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Pesticides Education Program
In the summer of 2006, Council for the Town of
LaSalle held a public meeting and considered passing a by-law to
regulate the use of pesticides in the municipality. Following public
input, Council concluded that the majority of residents supported
pesticide education rather than a ban on pesticide use. This is the
first in a series of public information pieces to educate the public
about the use of pesticides and alternatives to their use.
Q. What is a pesticide?
A. Pesticides are products used to kill plants, insects and
plant diseases. Pesticides used on lawns and gardens include
herbicides (which kill plants), insecticides (which kill insects)
and fungicides (which kill fungi).
Q. Who regulates pesticides?
A. The Federal Government approves and ensures public safety by
regulating the type of pesticides that can be used in Canada. The
Provincial Government provides certification courses and
examinations for individuals to obtain Integrated Pest Management
Accreditation so that they can apply pesticides as a profession.
Q. Are there alternatives to using
pesticides to prevent problems with weeds and insects?
A. Yes, the best way to eliminate the need for pesticides is to
keep your lawn healthy. There are a number of ways to do this:
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Topdress your lawn once or twice a
year with 5 mm (1/4 inch) of compost, topsoil or compost manure;
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Mow High – don’t cut grass shorter than 90
mm (3 ½ inches) in order to let the grass blades shade weeds and
increase lawn thickness;
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Water Less – only 25 mm (1 inch) per
week is needed to keep your lawn green throughout the summer.
Water in the morning to allow moisture to be absorbed;
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Overseed any bare spots with hardy
grass seeds;
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Replace grass with shrubs, trees,
perennials, ground cover and wild flowers. Native plants and
flowers are good choices because they are adapted to grow well
in our climate and soils without excessive watering and
fertilizer.
Source: The Detroit River Canadian Cleanup.
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