Pollinators, Pesticide Use and Weed Man

Pesticide use is an area of concern for potential impact on bee and other pollinator populations.  Weed Man is focused on reducing any impact on the environment and ensuring the health of pollinators.

Science suggests multiple factors are responsible for bee losses, including parasites, diet and nutrition, lack of genetic diversity, habitat loss, beekeeping management practices, weather, and viruses. To protect bee and other pollinator populations, Weed Man has a Pollinator Protection Policy for its decision-making process on the products it uses and how they are used.

Weed Man only uses Health Canada (Pest Management Regulatory Agency or PMRA) registered pesticides that have gone through rigorous testing and risk assessment. Assessments of health and environmental risks are central to the PMRA's decision-making process when registering a pesticide. The PMRA will not register a pesticide for use in Canada unless it is satisfied that human health and the environment will be protected from unacceptable risks from pesticides.

Weed Man uses the following best management practices to protect pollinators:

1. Be Alert to Blooming Plants: When applying insecticides, Weed Man monitors a property for blooming plants. The risk of pollinator exposure to insecticides is greatest when products are sprayed on pollinator-attractive plants while they are blooming.
   
   Weed Man gets many questions about the impact of weed control on pollinators from the removal of flowering weeds like dandelions.  Note that there are many flowering plants that are more attractive to pollinators than dandelions, including many common trees in the Maritimes like fruit trees, maple, elm and poplar.  As well, dandelions are low in amino acids, which are important to pollinator health.  Removal of pollinator-attractive weeds by mowing, or other means, before pesticide application can reduce pollinator exposure.  Most lawn weeds do not flower at the peak time for application of insecticides, which is during the summer months (for treatment of chinch bug).
   
   
2. Read and Follow the Pesticide Label: Before using any pesticide, an applicator must always read the label and ensure they comply with any instructions regarding pollinators. PMRA registered pesticides have specific directions for use if there is a risk of adverse impact to pollinators.  Some labels have a specific Pollinator Protection Box that points out important safety information for use around pollinators.  All Weed Man staff who apply pesticides are licensed for their application and trained to follow the label directions.
   
   
3. Know How Your Pesticide Works: Insecticides (for treatment of chinch) pose the greatest hazard to insect pollinators like bees and butterflies. Herbicides (for treatment of weeds) typically have little or no toxicity to pollinators. As mentioned above, the product label indicates if there is risk to pollinators. For pesticides that are hazardous to pollinators, exposure is limited by applying before blooms develop, or after petals fall. If products must be applied during bloom, they are not applied directly to blooms, to minimize pollinator exposure.
   
   Systemic insecticides can move in plants and can have long periods of residual activity. Pollinator exposure can be limited by applying product at the labeled rate and timing, and in accordance with all label restrictions. Most of the insect control applications that Weed Man does are for treatment of chinch bug, in July and August, when there are few blooming plants in lawns that are flowering.
   
   
4. Minimize Spray Drift: Pollinators can visit the blooms of landscape plants or weeds near target plants and be unintentionally impacted by drift and pesticide residues. Weed Man technicians are trained to follow all label and provincial guidelines for wind speeds to minimize drift. Weed Man’s equipment is designed to minimize drift using a low-pressure system with large droplets and the ability to spot treat.
   
   
5. Follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Protocols: IPM an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests, or their damage, through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines. Treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control products are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health and nontarget organisms, and the environment. IPM’s protocols include guidance on how to minimize risk to beneficial species like pollinators. 

Weed Man Maritimes is fully IPM accredited by Plant Health Atlantic, the body that manages and monitors the IPM program in the Maritimes.  It employs IPM certified Turf Practitioners, staff who are trained and licensed to follow IPM protocols. 

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For more information about Weed Man’s products and services, visit www.weedman.com or contact your local Weed Man® professional. We care for your lawn.