Lawn

The use of synthetic pesticides is prohibited at all times in Saint-Lambert even if they are readily available on the market. These pesticides are persistent in the environment and can contaminate water, air and soil. In addition, they have a detrimental impact on biodiversity because they do not target harmful organisms (pests) directly.

They also pose health risks for children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and animals. In fact, they may not be applied near schools and daycares.

They are absorbed by the body – whether through the skin, respiratory tract or mouth – and can cause immediate undesirable effects in people, such as skin and eye irritations, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

For more information on products whose use is prohibited by the Ville de Saint-Lambert, please contact the Green Squad by email at eco.brigade@saint-lambert.ca or by phone at 450-672-4444. Glyphosate products, which are a type of synthetic pesticide, are prohibited.

A special permit may be issued in cases of infestation.

Low-impact pesticides

Low-impact pesticides are permitted under our municipal by-laws, but only for cases of infestation. These pesticides come from natural sources. They are recognized as being less harmful because they are less persistent in the environment, target harmful organisms directly and are less toxic:

• diatomaceous earth and borax, for ants;
• insecticidal soaps, for aphids and other small insects;
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Btk), for caterpillars;
• nematodes, for white grubs;
• TreeAzin, for the emerald ash borer;
• other products such as sulphur, dormant oil, corn gluten meal, iron chelate, etc.

The best actions to take for an eco-friendly lawn:

• Action nº 1 | Encourage biodiversity: sowing clover or planting thyme in your lawn keeps white grubs and weeds away; also, these plants require less water, fertilizer and maintenance. A win-win strategy!;
• Action nº 2 | Keep your grass about 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in.) long to prevent weed invasions and insect infestations. Wait until it is about 10 cm (4 in.) long before mowing and it will stay green;
• Action nº 3 | Grasscycle, which means leaving your grass cuttings on the lawn instead of raking them up. This technique “returns” to the soil 30 to 50% of the nitrogen it needs and maintains a high level of moisture to feed the organisms responsible for natural soil fertility. It thus reduces the need for fertilizers and water;
• Action nº 4 | Water your lawn less often, but thoroughly (i.e. for longer) so as to reach the deep roots. And here’s a tip on how to make your lawn less dependent on water: avoid watering before the dry spells that occur in the month of June;
• Action nº 5 | Aerate your lawn. If the soil is compacted, you should aerate it in the spring and fall using a core aerator, which removes “plugs” of earth and leaves them in place to improve soil health;

• Action nº 6 | Feed the soil with compost, as this improves water retention and reduces the need for fertilizer. In the fall, mulch leaves on the spot with your lawn mower. Earthworms and other organisms in the earth will take care of turning them into compost (at no cost);
• Action nº 7 | Plant the right plants in the right place. In places where grass is hard to grow, plant some groundcover instead (periwinkle, creeping thyme, pachysandra, etc.) or arrangements of perennials adapted to the conditions.

Whether you treat your lawn yourself or use a contractor’s services, it is your responsibility to find out about the products applied and the proper way to apply them:

• Your contractor must have an authorization certificate from the City authorizing it to use pesticides (even those of low-impact) and fertilizers. The following contractors have this registration certificate authorizing their use of pesticides in compliance with our by-law:

- AJS Extermination
- Terminix
- CVert
- Herbu
- Experts Verts
- Weedman
- Monsieur Gazon
- Maheu Extermination

• The contractor is responsible for informing people, by posting coloured signs, that a property has been treated with pesticides to prevent all contact with the treated surface. These signs must be compliant with Québec’s Pesticide Management Code and placed so that they can be read without having to walk on the treated surface.

- Green sign: for a fertilizer;
- Yellow sign: for a low-impact pesticide;
- Red sign: for a synthetic pesticide requiring prior obtention of a temporary application permit from the City.

• The property owner is responsible for giving at least 24 hours advance notice to neighbours living adjacent to the property targeted for the application.

• Dandelions that start twisting, or weeds that droop, twist or change colour (purple, yellow or brown) are warning signs, so be vigilant! It is up to you to ensure that the products used by your contractor are authorized by the City.