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Robert's Pesticide-Free Garden
Toronto, Ontario

In order to protect human health and the health of our shared environment, a Toronto pesticide by-law restricting the use of outdoor pesticides comes into effect in April 2004. It is possible to have a healthy lawn and garden without the use of pesticides.

Robert, a retired Toronto resident, has a pesticide-free garden that is healthy and breathtaking. His garden is filled with everything from Lilies, Irises, Daisies, ornamental grasses, Coreopsis, Mums, Echinacea to Hydrangeas, rose bushes, evergreen shrubs and Black-Eyed Susans. Robert feels the three most important methods to keep a garden healthy are watering, appropriate spacing of flowerbeds and planting early in the season. Based on the soil type, the amount of rainfall, heat and humidity, Robert determines which plants grow well and propagate, and which one’s don’t and uses this information for planting the following summer. For Robert, it’s all about trial and error. Using perennials are better for his dry soil conditions.

Starting in late April, Robert spends thirty minutes a day working in his diverse, colourful, native garden. Gardening is one of his favourite hobbies. It provides him with stress relief, physical and mental challenges and a chance to enjoy nature. Robert also enjoys watching beneficial bugs, such as bees, butterflies and ladybugs.

Robert is looking forward to the upcoming pesticide by-law because he feels pesticides are over used and harmful to our environment. His garden is proof that it is possible to have a healthy lawn and garden without pesticides.

For more information about the by-law, healthy lawn care practices, and to order a complimentary pesticide-free sign, visit www.toronto.ca/pesticides. And, for questions, email Toronto Public Health at pesticide@toronto.ca.