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
