2011—The movement to ban harmful cosmetic pesticides is gaining momentum in Canada. Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia already have bans in place, while Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and British Columbia are either implementing or discussing the legislation of cosmetic pesticide bans. Many communities have taken it upon themselves to curtail the cosmetic use of pesticides through local bylaw enforcement and restrictions on pesticide sales. The latest development in the ongoing discussion of pesticide bans is a proposal to table ban legislation in Manitoba as early as the end of 2012.
The lawn care industry, the major consumer of cosmetic pesticides, has to brace itself for these restrictions by looking to alternative products that are acceptable under the strictures of these bans. Neudorff has received inquiries regarding the suitability of Fiesta Lawn Weed Killer® and Finalsan® Grass and Weed Killer to step in and fill the gaps left by the products that have been banned.
With the implementation of the cosmetic pesticide ban in Ontario, lawn care companies had very few options left to them. They resorted to pulling weeds and to biopesticides that did not fit well into their standard practice. When Fiesta Lawn Weed Killer® was introduced in 2010, the industry finally had a product that was effective and fit into the way they traditionally treated for weeds. Fiesta Lawn Weed Killer® is now a widely used herbicide in the lawn care industry in Ontario.
Research at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute1 has confirmed that Fiesta® can provide season-long control of weeds such as dandelion, white clover, and narrow-leaved plantain. 2010 research1 has shown that two applications of Fiesta® will control common chickweed and prostrate knotweed. More recent work2,3 conducted by the Guelph Turfgrass Institute and Ohio State University suggests that Fiesta® shows real promise in providing season-long control of the difficult to control creeping charlie (ground ivy). Further research is being conducted to determine the most economical means of achieving season-long weed control with Fiesta®.
Herbicidal soaps have long been familiar tools for those who are looking for non-selective weed and grass control. These fast-acting products will kill any part of the plant that they contact. Finalsan® Grass and Weed Killer is no exception; however, it is also one of the most user-friendly products when compared to other fatty acid herbicides, with none of the harsh fumes and corrosiveness of acetic acid herbicides. Research shows4 that Finalsan® continues to work well even when the daily low temperature drops below freezing; slow-acting glyphosate had very little effect. Research has also5 shown that two applications of Finalsan® will provide season-long control of troublesome weeds such as giant hogweed. In addition, Finalsan® has the added benefit of providing excellent control of moss and algae with no staining.
In the likely event of a pesticide ban, the lawn care and landscape industry can count on Fiesta and Finalsan to deliver reliable, low-risk weed control.
1. Pam Charbonneau, 2011, Weed Regrowth with Fiesta™ Herbicide, OMAFRA Turfgrass Specialist Guelph Turfgrass Institute.
2. Ken Carey, 2011, Herbicidal activity of NEU1173H applied to turfgrass infested with creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) – Spring 2011 trial, Guelph Turfgrass Institute.
3. David Gardner and E.H. Horner, 2011, Broadleaf Weed Control with Fiesta Herbicide, Ohio State University.
4. Internal Research, 2006, W. Neudorff GmbH KG, Germany.
5. Françios Tardiff and Peter Smith, 2011, Post-emergence control of Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) with Fiesta and Finalsan, Department of Plant Science University of Guelph.
