new rules ckde w get ready for pesticide · • replace your lawn with a garden of flowers, shrubs,...

Beginning April 1, 2011, only certain pesticides may be used on LAWNS.

Theserulesarecontainedintwodocuments:

• Non-essential Pesticides Control Act • Exceptions to Prohibitions on

Non-essential Pesticides Regulations

Thenewrulesareimportanttoreduceriskstoourfamiliesandtoprotectourenvironment.

These new rules apply to everyone:• residential–homes,apartments,

andcondos• commercial–businessesandcemeteries• government–parksandofficebuildings• institutional–schools,hospitals,

long-termcarehomes,andrecreationcentres

Manylower-riskpesticideswillstillbeallowedandavailableonstoreshelves.Forthelistofallowablepesticides,goto

gov.ns.ca/nse/pests/Allowed.List.Registered.Examples.pdf

Beginning April 1, 2012 the new rules will apply to ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS, FLOWERS, AND TREES.

EXCEPTIONSYou will still be allowed to use pesticides that are NOT on the allowable list to get rid of pests or plants that can harm people or animals, such as: European fi re ants, wasps, poison ivy, giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed.ThesepesticidesaresoldbyretailerscertifiedbyNovaScotiaEnvironmentandmustbekeptbehindthecounter.Remember,theremaybeallowablepesticidesornon-chemicalmeansthatwilltakecareofthepestproblems.

Certifiedretailerswilltellyou

•thebestwaytocontrolpestsandweedsonyourproperty

•therightwaytouseapesticidesothatitdoesthejob

•thelegalusesofthepesticide•theimportanceofreadingandfollowing

thedirectionsonthelabel

The new rules do NOT apply to •foodgrownonfarms

andathome•forests•golfcourses•indoorplants

•insectsinyourhome•mice,rats,orother

rodents•fleasonpets

CONTACT USFormoreinformationonpesticideuseinNovaScotia,gotogov.ns.ca/nse/pests/non-essential.pesticides.aspe-mailnon-essential-pesticides@gov.ns.ca,orcall 1-855-455-4034

GET READY FOR new PESTICIDE rulesYOUR GUIDE TO

healthy lawnsWITHOUT

PESTICIDES

IT’S only A DANDELION

YOUR GUIDE TO

NEW

PESTICIDE

RULES ON BACK

Want a low maintenance front and back yard? Try what some Nova Scotians are already doing:•makeyourlawnsmaller•replaceyourlawnwithagardenofflowers,

shrubs,andtrees•growavegetablegardenandfruittrees•enjoyallthewildflowersinyourlawn

SPRING SUMMER• Aerate the lawn.Punchholesthroughoutthelawnto

letair,water,fertilizer,andlimegettotherootsandthesoil.

• Add lime.Thisreducestheamountofacidinthesoil.TestthepHlevelofyoursoil.Ifitisacidic,likemostsoilinNovaScotia,addgardenlime.Thiswillmakeyourgrassgrowstrongandcutdownonweeds.

• Rake or de-thatch.Thatchisdeadgrassandotherplantsthatbuilduponthesurfaceofthesoil.Whenthatchismorethan1cm(½inch)thickitbecomesahomeforinsectsandpreventswaterfromgettingtotheroots.

• Fertilize. Youcangoaboutthisinoneoftwoways:

• Overseed.Addgrassseedanytimeyouseebareorthinningspots.Thestaffatyourlocalgardencentrecanhelpyouchoosetherightseedforourclimate.

•Fertilizethreetimesayear,inMay,earlyJuly,andSeptember.Usealightapplicationratewithatop-qualityfertilizer.

•FertilizeonceayearinearlySeptemberwithatop-qualityfertilizer.

or

• Whenshoppingforfertilizerlookforthesewords:

slow release and nitrogen.

Fertilizersoftenhaveaseriesofthreenumbersprintedonthefrontofthebag,forexample10-3-3.Lookforfertilizersthatarehighinthefirstnumberorthosethatonlycontainnitrogen.Yourlawnrarelyneedsaddedphosphorusorpotassium,thechemicalsrepresentedbytheothertwonumbers.

• Fertilize. Septemberisagoodtimetodothis.

• Add lime and compost. OctoberorNovemberareidealmonthsforthis.Compostactsasanaturalfertilizerandkeepsyoursoilhealthy.

• Overseed. Addgrassseedanytimeyouseebareorthinningspots.Youcandothisanytimeinthefall.

FALL• Longer grass is healthy grass.Keepgrass6–8

cmlong(2½–3inches).Cutonlyathirdofthegrassheighteachtimeyoumow.Keepyourmowerbladesharp.Thiswillprotectthegrassfromtearingandallowittogrowbetter.

• Water less often.Youonlyneedtowateryourlawnafteradryspell.Yourlawnneedswaterifitisturningyellowandsoundscrunchywhenyouwalkonit.Whenthishappens,giveyourlawnadeepsoak.Thiswilltakeanhourtoanhourandahalf.Onlydothisonceaweek(morningorevening).

• Overseed.Addgrassseedanytimeyouseebareorthinningspots.

Quick Tips!• Ifthisseemsliketoomuchwork,thinkabouthiring

aprofessionallawncarecompany.Tofindone,gotolandscapenovascotia.ca/search.php

• Ifyoudoneedtousepesticidesforstubbornproblems,choosesomethingfromtheallowablelistandremembertoreadandfollowthedirectionsonthelabel.

YOU can KEEP YOUR LAWN HEALTHY withou PESTICIDES