Pesticide Free Weed Control

Weed Control Without

Pesticides

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

With Victoria, Esquimalt and Saanich banning the use of cosmetic pesticides for residential lawns and gardens, homeowners need to change their approach to lawn care. Killex, Weed n Feed and other chemical based weed killers are prohibited - the penalty for a first offence is a warning, but subsequent offences can carry a penalty from $250 to $10,000.

Corn Gluten Meal - a natural lawn care herbicide

One of the most important breakthroughs in organic lawn care was discovered by accident by Iowa State University researchers. Corn gluten stops root development when seeds germinate causing the plant to die. Corn gluten meal is now patented, and is licensed for use as an alternative to chemical weed and feed products. Experts say 50-60% weed control in the first year is possible if the product is applied at the right time. If applied annually, weeds can be reduced by more than 90%.

Timing is everything - apply before tulips go dormant To successfully kill weeds with corn gluten, timing is crucial. Corn gluten needs to be applied when weed seeds are sprouting – experts say “before tulips go dormant”. Typically in Victoria, corn gluten should be applied before the end of March.

Bruce Marshall
http://www.turflogic.ca/
weed control without pesticides

CANCER SOCIETY PUSHES FOR PESTICIDE BAN IN SAANICH
Dec 14, 2009

THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY WILL ATTEND MONDAY NIGHT'S COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING IN SAANICH TO SHOW ITS SUPPORT FOR A PESTICIDE BAN IN THE DISTRICT. SAANICH COUNCIL WILL LOOK AT A BYLAW THAT WOULD END THE USE OF COSMETIC PESTICIDES IN THE MUNICIPALITY. CANCER SOCIETY COMMUNITY CO-ORDINATOR NANCY FALCONER SAYS THE PESTICIDE BAN IS SOMETHING THAT ALREADY HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT. "THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT ACTUALLY INTRODUCED A MODEL PESTICIDE BYLAW BACK IN 2004 AND TO DATE, ONLY ESQUIMALT AND VICTORIA HAVE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED A BAN. SO, WE FEEL THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW FOR SAANICH. IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS AND WE DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO WAIT ANY LONGER." FALCONER WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION CALLING ON SAANICH TO ENACT A BAN ON THE USE OF COSMETIC PESTICIDES BY THE SPRING OF 2010.

- LIZ MCARTHUR
CFAX 1070