Under new provincial rules, dandelions have been removed from the noxious weeds list and property owners may let the yellow flowers grow up to 15 centimeters, the same height which Drumheller bylaw deems grass to be at nuisance levels.
“Dandelions aren’t in (the Weed Control Act) per se, it’s always been a flower. It’s been a nuisance type weed people didn’t like because it spread fast,” said Nundahl. “Guaranteed, going through the list, you could find a noxious weed in any lawn. They’re pretty common.”
The town began spraying for dandelions last week, a week after Calgary city council debated the use of “harmful” pesticides for cosmetic purposes.
“We haven’t given it much consideration at this point,” said the town’s operations manager Keith Russell, but said the question could be something worth discussing. “But of course, outside the legislation, the weed is still the same – someone just said don’t chase them anymore.”
“They do cheat into green grass, but green grass has other issues as well – you need water to make it green and that’s all going to be an issue in future years.”
Councillor Andrew Berdahl said it hasn’t been an issue council has discussed.
“Items tend to become a concern when their price jumps in a short amount of time or some serious health concerns are noted suddenly, and I don’t know if either of those are a concern at the moment,” said Berdahl.
Russell told The Mail the town uses 2,4-D (2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) to kill weeds such as dandelions, which is a common chemical in consumer weed killers. Different organizations have taken different stances on 2,4-D’s cancer risk. In 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a statement ruling out a link between human cancer and 2,4-D exposure. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
But local green-thumb Patricia Parker said the reason why the debate is happening in cities is because tests of city groundwater is “phenomenally full of pesticides”, but in rural areas there are hardly any.
“In a city, people will spray and spray for one dandelion when you can just dig it out. They over spray, so I could see how cities would want to put a curb to it,” said Parker. “We’re not using as much as they are in the cities, we’re more conservative.”
Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi has placed himself in the anti-pesticide camp and urged the city to cut back on harmful chemicals.
“There’s a need for weed control but we need solutions, we don’t just need to ban it without solutions on what else we can do," Parker said.
The most effective method of organic dandelion control is the most labour intensive – hand pulling or digging out the weed. It’s ideal for homeowners looking to make their lawn a safe and pretty place for their kids and pets to play on, but the method isn’t feasible for the town’s many properties they care for.
“They don’t have the resources to have people hand dig them out. By the town hiring a licensed pesticide applicator they are on top of all the rules. It’s not them guys who are causing the problem, it’s the private guys in industry who are not researching it. If you just spot spray, you’re using very little chemical. The town spot sprays, but those who do not are the ones you want to teach to spot spray or dig them out.”
Organic weeding methods
There are a number of home remedies for removing dandelions from a lawn besides digging them out by hand.
Boiling water
Boiling hot water is an effective method for defoliating dandelions, but that option is non-selective, burning off the tops of any plant it contacts.
Vinegar mixture
A mixture of vinegar and water yields the same results as boiling water. Use at least a 10 to 20 per cent solution, and using a funnel or cone for application can keep it contained to just the pesky dandelions.
Prevention
The best way to control dandelions is to not give them quarter to survive in the first place. An organic control method for dandelions is to apply a corn gluten-based pre-emergent herbicide. The corn gluten inhibits germination of dandelion seeds. Repeated applications are necessary per herbicide package’s directions.
Maintenance
Dandelions, like all weeds, are opportunistic. They fill voids where lawn is weak. A well-maintained lawn is not as hospitable for weed seeds as a poorly nourished and thin lawn.
