- The toxic troubles of lawn chemicals<\/a><\/li>
- US cities limiting lawn fertilizers and pesticides<\/a>
- Ogunquit, Maine<\/a><\/li>
- Montgomery County, Maryland<\/a><\/li>
- Boulder, Colorado<\/a><\/li>
- Portland, Maine<\/a><\/li>
- Jupiter, Florida<\/a><\/li>
- Baltimore, Maryland<\/a><\/li>
- Maui, Hawaii<\/a><\/li>
- Norwalk, Connecticut<\/a><\/li>
- Hallowell, Maine<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Backlash on bans<\/a><\/li>
- Improvements seen by limiting fertilizer and pesticide use<\/a><\/li>
- How to use lawn chemicals safely<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ about fertilizer and pesticide use<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
The toxic troubles of lawn chemicals<\/span><\/h2>
![\"dangerous](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pesticide-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Richard Villalonundefined indefined<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> We don\u2019t often think beyond the price tag of a bag of fertilizer or the bill we receive from our lawn care company, but growing a lush, green lawn comes at a much more extensive cost. <\/p>
Commonly used lawn chemicals have been linked to various health issues ranging from allergies and skin irritation to congenital disabilities and cancer. <\/p>
While chemical fertilizers and pesticides pose direct concerns to human health through exposure, their biggest concern is their environmental impact when misapplied to lawns. Inappropriate or overapplication of these products can result in runoff that carries excessive nutrients or toxic chemicals into streams, ponds, lakes, and groundwater sources, contaminating waters and harming wildlife.<\/p>
Landscape chemicals can also cause air pollution and soil erosion and decrease biodiversity. <\/p>
Of the 30 commonly used lawn pesticides: <\/p>
- 23 can leach into drinking water sources<\/li>
- 17 are widely detected in groundwater<\/li>
- 24 are toxic to fish and other vital aquatic organisms<\/li>
- 11 are toxic to bees<\/li>
- 16 are harmful to birds<\/li> <\/ul>
The widespread availability of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has led to consumer complacency. <\/p>
People often think that just because a product is available for sale online or on a store shelf, it\u2019s safe for use, but that isn\u2019t always the case. There needs to be a healthy awareness of the dangers all chemical products pose, and they should be used judiciously, if necessary.<\/p>
Unfortunately, it isn\u2019t an easy or small problem to tackle. The amount of fertilizers and pesticides applied to US lawns and landscapes is eye-opening. Homeowners apply a staggering 90 million pounds of pesticides to their lawns and gardens annually! <\/p>
However, awareness is changing across the United States and worldwide, impacting how we care for our lawns.<\/p>
Note: In this article, \u201cpesticide\u201d encompasses all products used to control insects, weeds, diseases, and other pests \u2014 not just insects, as one might think. Local ordinances may refer to products by a more specific name that indicates what the chemical treats: insecticide (insects), herbicide (weeds), fungicide (fungi), or rodenticide (rodents).<\/em><\/p>
US cities limiting lawn fertilizers and pesticides<\/span><\/h2>
As environmental and human health concerns grow nationwide, cities enact strict regulations or pass bans on synthetic lawn chemicals to protect citizens and local water sources.<\/p>
Concerns over pollution \u2014 mainly toxic algae blooms that are killing aquatic life \u2014 have also led more than 30 Florida counties to enact strict regulations that range from establishing fertilizer-free zones within 25 feet of ponds, streams, wetlands, and other waterways to testing plant tissues before applying phosphorus.<\/p>
Ogunquit, Maine<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Marginal](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Ogunquit-Maine.jpg\")
Photo Credit: AlanRoseman<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> On Nov. 4, 2014, a ballot initiative was passed by Ogunquit residents to ban toxic pesticide use on landscapes and lawns within the town\u2019s jurisdiction. Allowable products include chemical pesticides classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as exempt materials under 40 CFR 152.25<\/a> and products permitted by the Organic Materials Review Institute<\/a>. <\/p>
Montgomery County, Maryland<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Rock](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Montgomery-County-Maryland.jpg\")
Photo Credit: John Brighenti<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In a groundbreaking move in 2015, Montgomery County banned pesticide use on residential lawns. It was one of the country’s strongest lawn pesticide regulations at the time. <\/p>
The pesticide industry quickly challenged the ban, but the Maryland Supreme Court upheld the county-wide law in 2019.<\/p>
Boulder, Colorado<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Boulder,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Boulder-Colorado.jpg\")
Photo Credit: SWKrullImaging<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> (Beyond Pesticides, May 6, 2015<\/a>) The City of Boulder, Colorado, restricted the use of bee-toxic neonicotinoid pesticides on city property in May 2015. The resolution was spearheaded by grassroots efforts of the local Bee Safe Boulder organization but also received strong support from Boulder officials. <\/p>
\u201cWe at Bee Safe Boulder, along with city staff and elected city council members, believe that this resolution will become the go-to template for other local governments with similar aspirations in the near future,\u201d said David Wheeler, co-founder of the Bee Safe Boulder local group.<\/p>
Portland, Maine<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Portland,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Portland-Maine.jpg\")
Photo Credit: DenisTangneyJr<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In January 2018, Portland, Maine, was one of the first cities to pass a profound ban that became national news. Portland\u2019s pesticide use ordinance prohibits using weed and feed products that combine fertilizers and pesticides, Roundup\u00ae and other weed killers containing the active ingredient glyphosate, and insecticides with a neonicotinoid called imidacloprid.<\/p>
The city still allows products \u201cacceptable for organic use\u201d or Organic Materials Review Institute<\/a> (OMRI) certified. Failure to comply with the ban could leave homeowners facing up to $500 in fines.<\/p>
\u201cEducation is making a big difference,\u201d says Avery Yale Kamila, co-founder of Portland Protectors, a nonprofit environmental group in Maine. \u201cThe more people learn about the health and environmental impact of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, the more they want to make different choices.\u201d<\/p>
Jupiter, Florida<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Jupiter,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Jupiter-Florida.jpg\")
Photo Credit: lucky-photographer<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In 2019, Jupiter banned \u200b\u200bpesticides and fertilizers during the rainy season to protect the Loxahatchee River and address algal blooms. Between June 1 and September 30 \u2014 what is known as the blackout season \u2014 only properly trained and licensed contractors and homeowners are allowed to apply fertilizer or pesticides. <\/p>
Slow-release fertilizers with no phosphorus are the only types permitted during this time.<\/p>
Baltimore, Maryland<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Baltimore,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Baltimore-Maryland.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Kruck20<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Limitations regarding applying and using glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, and neonicotinoid pesticides on all city-owned properties were approved in 2020. <\/p>
Baltimore City Council Bill 20-0495<\/a> took effect July 1, 2022, prohibiting the use and application of glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, and neonicotinoids on residential lawns, playgrounds, mulched recreation areas, children\u2019s facilities, and playing fields.<\/p>
Maui, Hawaii<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Maui,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Maui-Hawaii.jpg\")
Photo Credit: IOFOTO<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In August 2021, the Maui County Council voted unanimously to pass Bill No. 72, which allows only pesticides and fertilizers permitted under the USDA National Organic Program<\/a> to be used on all county properties.<\/p>
Norwalk, Connecticut<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Norwalk,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Norwalk-Connecticut.jpg\")
Photo Credit: DenisTangneyJr<\/a> | Canva Pro | License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Norwalk\u2019s city council approved a new ordinance in July 2022 banning non-organic pesticides on all city-owned properties. According to Drew Toher, community resource and policy director for Beyond Pesticides, the umbrella term \u201cpesticides\u201d includes \u201cinsecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, all the other biocides out there intended to mitigate, kill or repel a pest or weed.\u201d <\/p>
Exceptions to the ordinance include certain extreme situations, such as persistent poison ivy on school properties, provided the application area is not within 200 feet of any surface waters.<\/p>
Hallowell, Maine<\/span><\/h3>
![\"Vaughn](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Hallowell-Maine.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Paul VanDerWerf<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Hallowell\u2019s city council voted unanimously in September 2023 to pass a pesticide ban stopping residents from using pesticides on private properties. The ban also includes provisions for water testing to detect the presence of pesticides and fertilizers in town waters. The legislation went into effect in January 2024.<\/p>
Backlash on bans<\/span><\/h2>
Obviously, legislation limiting the use of lawn chemicals is bound to be contested by manufacturers, landscaping professionals, and even some homeowners.<\/p>
Although companies that manufacture banned neonicotinoids and glyphosate products have yet to make public statements about the ever-increasing number of cities enacting strict regulations (or outright prohibitions) on these ingredients, their websites reassure consumers their products are safe for use.<\/p>
Regarding glyphosate, Bayer\u2014the manufacturer of the muchly contested herbicide Roundup\u00ae\u2014writes, \u201cGlyphosate is one of the most studied herbicides in the world \u2013 and, like all crop protection products, it is subject to rigorous testing and oversight by regulatory authorities. There is an extensive body of research on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides\u2026that confirm that glyphosate and our glyphosate-based formulated products can be used safely and are not carcinogenic.\u201d <\/p>
Lawn care and landscaping companies are some of the most vocal opponents of these bans. <\/p>
After all, chemical limitations severely limit their practices and impact how effectively they do their jobs. More and more organic products are available, but they typically come at a higher price and don\u2019t always work as well as conventional lawn care chemicals, especially with tenacious weeds.<\/p>
The challenge is that lawn care professionals don\u2019t have the same ability to achieve the results they once did with synthetic products, but their customers expect the same results.<\/p>
Per Brandon Sheppard, owner of a Weed Man franchise in Montgomery County, Maryland, \u201cMany of the products that are allowed for weed control and pest control are just simply not very effective and so you have increased cost of the material, reduced effectiveness and a massive jump in the labor required to deliver the service because of the number of reapplications you have to do with a less comparable product.\u201d<\/p>
In a 2018 Lawn & Landscape\u2019s State of the Industry report<\/a>, 29% of landscape and lawn care companies were concerned about bans impacting their businesses. One operator said bans have made it harder to treat certain weeds, which makes it more challenging to meet homeowner expectations. He added, \u201cEven clients who are purely organic get tired of the results sometimes.\u201d<\/p>
Improvements seen by limiting fertilizer and pesticide use<\/span><\/h2>
The bans are so widespread now that many fertilizer companies no longer include phosphorus in most of their fertilizer products because of the damage phosphorus poses to water. Which is generally okay when it comes to lawn fertilizers.<\/p>
Most soils typically have enough phosphorus that additional nutrient supplementation isn\u2019t needed. Fertilizers formulated for new lawns<\/a> and gardens still contain P, but these products are intended for short-term use and pose fewer concerns.<\/p>
And there\u2019s no doubt that limiting lawn chemical use or ensuring correct application can bring about positive environmental changes.<\/p>
Studies show that chemical bans can help the environment. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that phosphorus levels in the Huron River dropped by 28%<\/a> after the city of Ann Arbor adopted a fertilizer ban.<\/p>
How to use lawn chemicals safely<\/span><\/h2>
- Always follow label directions for application rates and timing.<\/li>
- Routinely run a soil test<\/a> to determine your soil\u2019s fertility and apply lawn fertilizer based on the results.<\/li>
- Avoid applying lawn fertilizer between Nov. 15 and March 1 when the grass is dormant.<\/li>
- Only use the type<\/a> and amount of fertilizer your lawn needs.<\/li>
- Avoid applying pesticides right before rain.<\/li>
- Do not apply pesticides close to stream banks, ponds, etc.<\/li> <\/ul>
Pro tip:<\/em><\/strong> Need help fertilizing your lawn? Lawn Love has you covered with our <\/em>guide<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>
FAQ about fertilizer and pesticide use<\/span><\/h2>
How long are pesticides toxic on grass?<\/span><\/h3>
Whether you apply pesticides yourself or hire a professional to do it for you, it\u2019s recommended that humans and pets stay away from treated areas for anywhere from six to 24 hours. A general recommendation is to wait until the product has dried completely before walking across the lawn. <\/p>
However, a 2013 research study<\/a> examining lawn pesticide levels in dog urine found that herbicides persisted on lawn surfaces for more than 48 hours after application.<\/p>
Are organic fertilizers and pesticides effective?<\/span><\/h3>
Organic products may not work as quickly or effectively as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but they can feed your lawn and control pests. The fertilizers are usually composed of slow-release nutrients, so they feed your lawn over time, and it will take longer to see results. Organic pesticides work through different modes of action \u2014 typically drying out the plant or insect \u2014 so they also work slower and may take numerous applications to see desired results. <\/p>
Can I have a healthy lawn without using harmful pesticides?<\/span><\/h3>
Yes! The good news is you don\u2019t have to pick between having a lush, healthy, green lawn or protecting your family\u2019s health and the environment. Many integrated pest management practices and non-toxic pesticide options can be used as alternatives to synthetic lawn chemicals.<\/p>
Pro tip: <\/em><\/strong>Lawn Love can help you with this <\/em>guide<\/em><\/a> on non-toxic ways to kill weeds.<\/em><\/p>
- Montgomery County, Maryland<\/a><\/li>
- US cities limiting lawn fertilizers and pesticides<\/a>