If this by-law is to be effective at reducing the usage of pesticides for cosmetic purposes then the infestation threshold levels as suggested, and mainly relating to turf problems, must be raised.
As a professional horticulturist, I find it unacceptable that many in my trade find it necessary to use such vast amounts of pesticides in order to maintain plant health. In some applications pesticides may have their place, but not for regular use sheerly for cosmetic purposes.
I realize that the purpose of this by-law is to reduce the cosmetic use of pesticides, but these low threshold levels make it too easy to continue using them with certain regularity. These comments apply to all the stated threshold levels, and particularly Class A weed infestation and insect threshold levels. These are far too low and will do little to discourage the continued reliance of pesticides for control as opposed to alternative cultural care practices. More
importantly, we must as a community learn to treat weeds and lawn pests as less of an enemy. The thresholds must be raised to the point where it is no longer considered a practical option for the average citizen to consider pesticides. SF