Are Lawn Care Herbicide Applications Safe for My Family and the Environment?
- Sinisa Hamp
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Many homeowners aim for a lush, weed-free lawn, but achieving this often requires herbicide use. However, concerns about the safety of herbicides for people, animals, and the environment are growing. Over half of surveyed Canadians view pesticide use negatively. This article will discuss the risks of lawn herbicides, their benefits, who can apply them and under what conditions, and cover most commonly safety questions we are asked.
Herbicides and Associated Risks
Using herbicides to manage lawn weeds can introduce certain risks, which often lead to public skepticism. It is important to openly discuss these risks so that homeowners can make informed choices about whether they are comfortable with herbicide application on their lawns. Herbicides may pose health concerns for humans and pets if exposure occurs. Contact with herbicides can cause irritation to the eyes and skin, particularly when applied on windy or hot days, or if the lawn is entered immediately after treatment. Additionally, desirable plants—including nearby flowers, trees, shrubs, vegetables, and ornamentals—can be harmed by spray drift. Environmental risks also arise if rain or watering immediately after application moves herbicides into storm drains and water bodies, potentially impacting aquatic life and water quality. Application accidents or errors, such as using the wrong product or incorrect rate, spillage, or spraying during periods of high heat, can further damage or even kill the lawn.
Benefits of Weed Management Using Herbicides
However, weed management through herbicide use offers several benefits beyond creating visually appealing lawns. Eliminating weeds allows grass to fill in all areas, resulting in a more uniform and dense surface. This density makes it more difficult for new weed seeds to establish themselves. In effect, a lush and healthy lawn acts as a proactive defence against future weed problems. Both grass and weeds require water and nutrients to thrive, but weeds tend to absorb these resources faster, creating competition and hindering lawn health. Removing weeds also reduces their spread into flower beds and other landscaped spaces. Selective herbicides used by commercial weed management companies, which target only undesirable plants, are often more effective than hand-pulling. These herbicides are systemic, meaning the plant absorbs the product and is destroyed from within. Hand-pulling weeds is labour-intensive and carries the risk of leaving behind parts of the plant in the soil, which could allow certain weeds, such as Canadian Thistle—with root networks of up to 500 metres—to continue spreading.
So, what steps are taken to manage herbicide risks and ensure they are used safely for maximum benefit?
Professional Lawn Herbicide Application: Licensing and Oversight
The sale and application of herbicides in Canada is regulated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The PMRA is a branch of Health Canada responsible for overseeing the use of herbicides in agriculture, forestry, industry, and various residential settings. Its role includes addressing key questions such as whether a product is permitted for sale, which weeds and sites it can be used on, the required application rates and safety steps, and what limitations are established to protect people, pollinators, water, and wildlife.
The PMRA administers Canada’s Pest Control Products Act and related regulations. Its mandate is to safeguard human health and the environment by preventing unacceptable risks from pest control products, while ensuring access to pest management tools. In practice, this involves evaluating scientific evidence before registering a herbicide, setting the use conditions outlined on product labels, and continuing oversight after registration through re-evaluations, special reviews, incident reporting, and compliance activities.
When it comes to residential lawns, only herbicides approved by the PMRA may be applied, and this must be done by licensed landscape pesticide applicators. This requirement is in place to ensure that professionals are well-trained to follow both PMRA and provincial regulations, thereby promoting safety and compliance.
Lawn care herbicides are safe when they are applied by licensed pesticide applicators and when post-application instructions are carefully followed.
The process of obtaining a licence is thorough, providing applicators with essential knowledge about herbicide use, regulatory guidelines, and best practices. To keep their licence valid, applicators must renew it every five years. Renewal is accomplished either by retaking the licensing exam or by accumulating fifteen hours of continuing education. This ongoing education can include seminars and conferences relevant to herbicides and their application, ensuring applicators stay current with any regulatory or procedural changes. During their work, licensed herbicide applicators must keep detailed records of every herbicide application. These records provide transparency and accountability, as applicators are subject to inspections that verify adherence to regulations and proper application practices.
In summary, lawn care herbicides are safe when they are applied by licensed pesticide applicators and when post-application instructions are carefully followed.
Our Approach to Weed Management
At Image, our commitment is to create beautiful outdoor spaces that allow our clients to fully enjoy their homes and love where they live. We believe that weed management should not be a source of concern or fear for homeowners. If we weren't sure that herbicides were safe when handled properly, we wouldn't use them. Our weed management program goes beyond simply applying herbicides. We focus on maintaining a weed-free lawn through a comprehensive approach that includes nurturing lawn health with optimal nutrition and timely mowing, conducting weekly monitoring, and implementing both broadcast and spot herbicide treatments when necessary. Whenever herbicides are applied, we provide our clients with clear post-application instructions. This ensures safety and peace of mind, so our clients can continue to enjoy their outdoor space with confidence. Our friendly staff is also always available and happy to chat about any concerns related to our weed management program.
Request a no obligation quote for our summer services to experience the beauty of a thriving, well-maintained lawn that offers an ideal backdrop for family gatherings and outdoor fun.
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