RESPONSIBLE APPROACHES TO PEST AND WEED

MANAGEMENT

NAME OF SPEAKER

NAME OF GROUP

DATE

• Thank group.

• Introduce yourself.

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THE PESTICIDE DEBATE

• Concerns about safety/risks of using pesticides

• Growing pressure on cities/communities to ban pesticides

• Decisions needs to be based on facts

• Risk/benefit analysis

• We are seeing the use of pesticides questioned.

• For clarification purposes, the industry defines “pesticide” as herbicides, miticides, fungicides, insecticides, rodenticides – anything that gets rid of a pest (bug, weed, rodent, fungus, etc.). 

• LOCALIZE THE ISSUE IF THERE IS A LOCAL EXAMPLE

• Growing pressure on policy makers to ban pesticides.  This has happened in some provinces of Canada and other places in the U.S. and some policy makers are questioning decisions made to ban.

• We believe it’s imperative to base decisions on facts.

• A risk/benefit analysis can help decision makers weigh the Pros and the Cons before making a decision. 

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Benefits of Healthy Landscapes

• Environmental benefits• Trees/plants/grass remove

dust and air pollutants and cleanse water

• Cooling effect

• Quality of life• Healthy landscapes provide

play/recreation areas• Healthy trees create less

hazards

• Property values• Increase property

value/enhance sales

• Something everyone can agree upon is the importance of healthy landscapes.  

• There are many important reasons to ensure our trees, plants andlawns stay healthy and in many cases it requires the responsibleuse of pesticides to accomplish that. 

• READ BENEFITS FROM SLIDE

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Understanding risks of using pesticides

• Risks must be managed

• “Dose makes the poison”

• Exposure does not equal illness

• There are risks to using pesticides – much like there are risks to not following the directions on medications. 

• Risks must be managed and can be managed by using approved chemicals, in the right quantity, at the right time, using the proper application.

• “Dose makes the poison” – as with any thing in life – the amount of a substance someone is exposed to – is the driver on whether or not it is harmful. 

• Toxicologist we consult with points out that exposure does not equal illness.

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Need for proper care and maintenance

• Proper care critical for plant health

• Colorado poses challenging growing conditions

• Stressed plants more prone to pests

• Pros rely on science to guide maintenance

• Proper care and maintenance of a property is our number one defense against pests/weeds.

• Even native or other well adapted plants, it’s a challenge to keep trees and plants thriving in Colorado.

• Harsh growing climate:  altitude, intense sun, poor soil, semi‐arid climate.

• Plants that are stressed are more prone to disease, pests.  Pests are capable of killing trees and plants and eroding the quality of our landscapes.  Mountain Pine Beetle devastation in our high country is a grim reminder of what pests can do.  

• Professionals develop horticulturally‐sound maintenance practices based on plant science and entomology.  

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Understanding risks of using pesticides

“Proper use of diluted pesticides by trained applicators and

casual exposure to the public in parks would not result in

illness. The dose is far too minimal.”

– Scott Phillips, MD, FACP, FACMT, associate clinical professor ofmedicine, division of pharmacology and toxicology – University of

Colorado Health Sciences Center

• Dr. Scott Phillips is a medical toxicologist and an associate clinical professor of medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. GreenCO asked Dr. Phillips his viewpoint of properly applied pesticides. 

• I want to quote him directly, “Proper use of diluted pesticides by trained applicators and casual exposure to the public would not result in illness. The dose is far too minimal.”

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Why even take the risk?• Here’s why:

• Little, if any, evidence that properly applied pesticides/herbicides create illness

• Much more risky behaviors we readily engage in everyday:• Driving (1 death in 228 people)• Fall on stairs (1 death in 2331 people)• Drowning (1 death in 1081 people)• Cancer from smoking (1 case in 13)

• Risks are minimal when properly applied• Pesticides one of the most regulated substances in U.S.• Risks to plant/tree health increase substantially when that tool is

taken away• Healthy landscapes improve quality of life and property values

• Source: National Vital Statistics Report (www.cdc.gov/nchs).

• Concerned parents, homeowners and others often pose the question:  Why would you even take the risk – even if it’s small? 

• That’s a good question – and one that prompts a risk/benefit analysis.  

First let’s look at the real risks:

• As you saw from previous slides, there is little evidence properly applied pesticides create illness.

• We engage in much more risky behaviors everyday – do we ask ourselves “Why even take the risk?” Look at some of the risks from everyday activities – driving, falls, drowning, smoking. 

• As with medication or any substance, we all know the importance of “use as directed” – the same things applies to pesticides.

• Tight regulations at the federal, state, local level. 

Now the benefits:• Pesticides are an important tool in our tool kit for keeping trees and plants healthy.

• Healthy landscapes improve our quality of life and property values.

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Natural versus Synthetic

• “Natural” not always safer• All chemicals, even

natural, have the potential to cause harm if not properly handled

• Natural not required to undergo testing

• Synthetic chemicals undergo rigorous testing

• Natural not as effective

• We hear a lot about natural or organic alternatives and most of us in the Green Industry offer those products and programs for our customers.  

• It’s important to note that “natural” is not always safer –most of these products have not been tested in the same rigorous manner as synthetic pesticides. 

• Natural substances can cause harm too if not handled properly.

• Natural pesticides are not as effective in many cases and have not gone through the same level of testing by the government.

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Pesticide Regulation

• US EPA has a screening process that is more stringent than any other country in the world• Requires 120 health, safety and environmental tests

• Requires testing at 10 times the recommended level

• Short-term and long-term risks studied

• State of Colorado• Governs who, where, when, how and what pesticides are applied

• Oversees commercial applicators

• Requires commercial applicators to post notification signs

• Maintains pesticide sensitivity registry

• Pesticides on the other hand go through stringent US EPA screening – the most rigorous of any country in the world

• READ FROM SLIDE

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Risks of not using pesticides – more than cosmetic

• Pest health risks to people• Some insects spread fatal diseases• Mosquitos carry West Nile Virus• Pests can contaminate food• Asthma and allergies increase

• Impacts to property values/quality of life• Canadian experience

• Risk to trees/plants• Mountain Beetle devastation• Dutch Elm Disease• Thousand Cankers Disease – Black

Walnut Trees• Ips Beetle – Blue Spruce trees

• In the risk/benefit analysis, one must ask:  What are the risks of NOT using pesticides?

• As professionals, we know the purpose of using them is much more than cosmetic – it’s about human health and the health of trees and plants. 

• READ FROM SLIDE

• The bottom line is pests can devastate trees and plants – very few people would tolerate what happened in the high country due to Pine Beetles in our urban landscapes.

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Noxious Weeds• Noxious weeds threaten native plants, water supply, and crops

• Colorado law requires eradication of noxious weeds

• Noxious weeds displace biodiversity and impact food, shelter and habitat for wildlife

• Noxious weeds are non‐native invasive plants that displace desirable vegetation and degrade natural and agricultural lands. 

• Threaten our drinking water supply, agricultural crops, pasture lands and native habitats. 

• Colorado law requires eradication of noxious weeds. If you don’t have herbicides in your tool kit, going to be hard to comply. 

Where They Come From: 

• Plants have been transported accidentally from places as far away as Europe, Asia or Africa.

• Noxious weeds have an advantage in their new environment because the insects, diseases, and animals that would normally control them are not found here. The weeds are able to adapt to our varied climatic and environmental conditions.

• Spread by animals, humans, water, and wind. Noxious weeds can easily be introduced as seeds in soil, ornamental planting mixes, nursery stock, or hitch‐hike on vehicles. 

• Prime locations for noxious weeds to become established are on roadsides, land cleared for construction, range that is overused by animals or humans, wetlands, along riparian corridors and in lakes and streams. 

Impacts: 

• Noxious weeds are moving into ecosystems and displacing native plants at an alarming rate. 

• When the native plants that wildlife use for food, shelter, or nesting are gone, wildlife leave the area. 

• Noxious weeds impact valuable agricultural lands by competing for resources. 

The picture above shows leafy spurge. Leafy spurge seeds are expelled from their seed capsule and can fly up to 30 feet. Leafy spurge contains a sap that may cause blisters in the mouth of cattle and wildlife. 

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Solution: Integrated Pest Management

• Sustainable, comprehensive approach to managing pests including:• Biological (non chemical)

• Cultural

• Physical

• Chemical

• Reduces sole reliance on chemicals

• The Green Industry employs IPM – a sustainable, comprehensive approach to managing pests – which uses a variety of tools including:

• Biological• Cultural• Physical• Chemical 

• It is a misnomer that IPM does not incorporate chemicals when necessary.  

• But is does reduce the sole reliance on chemicals – more comprehensive solution.

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Solution: Best Management Practices

• GreenCO created BMPs with Colorado State University

• The healthier the landscape, the less chance of pest/weed issues

• Provide guidance on :• Soil preparation• Installation• Watering• Ongoing

maintenance

• Another key approach landscape professionals employ are Best Management Practices developed with CSU and other partners.

• The philosophy with BMPs is the healthier the landscape, the less chance for pest/weed issue.

• Provides guidance on how to prepare soil, properly install, irrigate, and maintain landscapes.

• Reduces the need for pesticides. 

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Solution: Reduce Exposure

• Hire a professional• License and extensive

training

• Target spray applications

• Avoid area while wet –advance notification of spraying• Notification

• Using IPM and BMPs will create healthier landscapes that will require less use of chemicals.  

• Additionally, here are some other safeguards we as a profession:

• Professionals applicators undergo extensive training –licensing is managed through the state of Colorado. 

• We are trained to target spray applications – very little broad ban spraying occurs.

• We are required to post notifications signs so people can stay away from areas while wet – not an exposure risk when dry.

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We’ve come a long way….• Lower Risk

• Less toxic chemicals

• More targeted applications

• Applied in smaller amounts

• Most products break down very quickly

• Enhanced application techniques

• We know much more today than we did in previous eras about pesticide use.

• READ FROM SLIDE

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Questions/Comments

• Resources:

• www.greenco.org

• www.ext.colostate.edu/

• www.epa.gov/pesticides/

I thank you for your time and interest. 

Here are some resources you can link to for additional information.

We also have a white paper for policy/decision makers that cover the points we make in the presentation in greater detail.

As landscape professionals, we want to be a resource to you.  As parents and residents of this community – we share the desire for safe places to play and recreate.  

We believe we can do both – protect the health of trees and plants – in a responsible manner. 

We appreciate the opportunity to share this information. 

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