Canada to ban weed and feed lawn products

Canadian Federal Regulators have passed a bill that will see the sale and use of all weed and feed turf products banned.

The ban focusses on the lawn and turf uses of combined fertiliser-pesticide products - the areas of grass that have been defined are:

• Lawn turf planted in or around residences, as well as public and commercial buildings including schools and cemeteries


• Sports and recreational turf such as turf in parks, playgrounds, golf courses, zoos, botanical gardens and athletic playing fields

Collectively, these are known as fine turf - maintained by either home owners or by professional lawn care practitioners.

The ban does not include agricultural uses of fertiliser-pesticide combination products - for example, commercial turf companies producing turf for domestic or commercial use.

Interestingly, the decision doesn't seem to have been brought about by any perceived dangers concerning the active ingredients, but more about horticultural 'best practices'.

Combination products have been purchased for their convenience and ease of use as a two-in-one product to address separate lawn maintenance issues (for example, nutrient deficiency and various pest infestations) with a single application. However, these products are unsuitable as a delivery mechanism because they support broadcast application of the pesticide when this might not be warranted.

Ultimately, fertilizer and pesticide applications should be based on need. Fertilizer should only be used if the turf will benefit from additional nutrients, and pesticide should only be used as a broadcast treatment if the pest densities are sufficiently high across the area to be treated. Targeted, well-timed liquid formulations of pesticides minimize pesticide use on the lawn and turf sites.

Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency has set the last date of sale as 31st December 2012.

Comment: Would this ban be workable in the UK?