Organic vs. Chemical Lawn Care. People often ask us What is Organic Lawn Care? It is the treatment and maintenance of your lawn without using any harmful chemicals or toxic products. Natural fertilizers, weed control and insect control products are used in conjunction with nature to grow a vigorous and healthy lawn. Why not use chemicals? The simple answer is... they are not necessary. We treat the cause of your lawn problems, whereas chemicals treat the symptoms. Let's look at the key components to any lawn care program, whether you hire a professional, or do-it-yourself 1. Fertilizers: Organic fertilizers consist of compost or composted manure. They provide nutrients to the soil which feeds the root system of your lawn. Chemical (synthetic) fertilizers also feed your lawn, but they can also burn your lawn too. For further information of the benefits of using organic fertilizer, check out July/August issue of Organic Gardening, their special report states, "High organic-matter content is the primary reason compost and most other organic fertilizers are superior to chemical fertilizers. Chemicals don't provide the carbohydrates that are essential for a healthy soil food web, and some of them are so caustic that they can kill soil organisms and inhibit plant growth." (Organic Gardening, July/August, pg. 48). 2. Weed Control: Natural weed control entails some hand weeding while your lawn gathers strength. By focusing on soil health, your lawn gets thicker, stronger and more weed resistant. Also, overseeding creates stronger grass through diversity. Chemical weed control entails spraying some form of chemical pesticide on your lawn. These chemicals have serious potential risks to the health of humans, pets and the environment. Pesticides were developed to kill living organisms, they teat the symptom and not the cause of the problem. 3. Insect Control: Organic insect control is done using beneficial insects, such as nematodes. They control grubs and dozens of other root zone pests. Chemical pest control products sterilize soils, killing beneficial microbes, earthworms and pollinators. Which would you choose, the solution which works with nature, is not harmful to people, pets or plants, OR the one which is potentially harmful and works against nature??? If organic lawn care is so great, why isn't everyone doing it? Well, consumers are getting educated about being organic and health conscious. Unfortunately, the chemical companies have marketing clout and substantial marketing budgets which tells consumers there way is better. The recent trends suggest our government is working in the public's best interest by banning harmful pesticides and educating consumers on safe organic alternatives. For example, the EPA banned Dursban (see a press release below) this year. In Canada, the movement away from cosmetic use of pesticides is starting to occur. Note what has happened in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Also, municipal governments across Ontario are starting to investigate pesticide reduction methods and some have already started testing organic methods. Another great example is the City of Nepean. Just what is the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)? The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) was formed to better regulate the pest management regulation. “The PMRA administers the Pest Control Products Act for the federal Minister of Health. The Pest Control Products Act regulates the use of substances that claim to have a pest control use.”1 Basically, the PMRA has the monumental task of providing consumers and commercial companies/applicators with products to “kill”, “control” or “suppress” pests. Consumers most often buy products to kill weeds and insects in their lawn and gardens. On the labels of these products appear application instructions, safety and first aid information and most importantly a Pest Control Product (PCP) registration number. This number signifies the product is a registered pest control product. Putting Consumer Safety and Protection First The heating up of the weather undoubtedly sends streams of consumers to retailers looking for insecticides, herbicides and other pest control products to be used in their lawn and gardens to control pests. With the increasing consumer awareness, more and more consumers are choosing natural alternative products. In the United States many pest control products are unregulated, so they are sold without proving their effectiveness, and manufacturers are able to make wild label claims. This is not true in Canada, and it is one of the best ways government regulations protect consumers from unscrupulous products. While consumer choice has never been better, some products still manage to make their way onto retailers shelves with unsubstantiated claims or they are not registered as a Pest Control Product with the PMRA. Increasingly natural products such as corn gluten meal and beneficial nematodes are sold using words such as "kill", "control" and "suppress" on their labels, yet remain unregistered (Update: Turfmaize is now a registered pre-emergent weed control). Before buying a pest control product, check to see if has been registered, i.e. it should have a registration number clearly marked on the label. The PCPA was designed to protect consumers from unregulated products. So, what makes a product deemed a "pest control" product in Canada. First, a company submits a product for scientific review to the PMRA. The government reviews data which proves the products safety to people, animals, the environment and more so it's effectiveness in controlling the "pest" be it a weed, insect or other unwanted creature. Currently in Canada, only a few natural pest control products have been registered. For example, some products are available from Safer, Nu-gro and Ecoval to name a few. However, consumers are being mislead more and more by manufacturers selling unregistered products. A perfect example of this is corn gluten meal. Only Corn gluten meal with a Pest Control Products Number can make weed control claims. Without a PCP number (like Turfmaize), corn gluten can only be sold as a fertilizer. Update: Turfmaize is now a registered pre-emergent weed control. What should consumers do if they see an unregulated product on their retailers shelf? First they should inform the retailer. Second, consumer choice will dictates whether they should or should not buy the unregistered product. Finally, the PMRA should be informed of the violation. You can find the local compliance office in your area by visiting the PMRA web site. Perhaps, the best thing consumers can do is educate themselves about natural alternatives before they head to the store. Review manufacturers web sites, read gardening magazines or check out other lawn and garden resources on the internet. There is nothing wrong with selling or marketing a product for use in your lawn and garden which is not registered, it just means that the label cannot make claims such as "control" or "kill". Just like any other purchase, an informed buy is the best buy for you. Remember to always read product labels and application instructions prior to product use to ensure value for your money, by correctly using the product. With more natural products to choose from, education is the key to successful chemical free lawn and garden maintenance. For more information on the PMRA visit http://www.hc-gc.ca/pmra-arla For healthy lawn information visit http://www.healthylawns.net 1. Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Overview Document, pg.1 May 2001. HOME

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