In his last month representing Midwest Grows Green, Ryan Anderson details the most applied pesticides in the lawn and garden sector and the alternatives to these products.
It has been a great privilege to lead Midwest Grows Green (MGG) since its start in 2015. At first, I felt overwhelmed learning the concepts, terms and products of the lawn and garden sector. It did not take long, however, to understand this industry and grow MGG’s footprint. I want to impart this knowledge to MGG advocates and supporters starting with an overview of the pesticides MGG most often addresses.
You may assume the lawn and garden sector applies a diverse array of products to grow vegetation and control weeds and pests. However, many of the active ingredients in these pesticides have not changed for more than 50 years. Three of the most common active ingredients include glyphosate, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and neonicotinoids. I will explain how a comprehensive sustainable landscaping program can avoid the applications of each of these products.
Glyphosate
MGG has received the most requests for alternatives to glyphosate, because the International Association for the Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen in 2015 and glyphosate is the most-used herbicide in the world.
Applicators cannot broadcast spray glyphosate on lawns, because the herbicide will kill most vegetation it contacts. Instead, most urban and residential applications of glyphosate occur on pavers, garden beds, tree rings, sand and other bare soil areas to eliminate all vegetation or in natural areas to control for invasive weeds.
Many alternative strategies and products can cost-effectively control unwanted vegetation in pavers, garden beds and tree rings. First, greenspace managers should replenish mulch on tree rings and garden beds each year. Next, hand weeding, sod cutting, heat treatment or organic herbicides will kill unwanted vegetation. Find a description of each of these alternatives on Lawnandland.org’s Alternative Invasive Weed Management Products and Structures to Glyphosate webpage.
Control of invasive weeds requires in-depth planning to avoid or reduce glyphosate applications. Glyphosate observes the most effective kill of the entire invasive weed from stem to root. Most of the alternatives listed by LawnandLand.org will “burn-down” the invasive weed, but not kill the roots allowing the weed to return each growing season.
Sometimes glyphosate provides the only control option for an invasive weed infestation. This includes MGG’s lesser celandine management at Wilmette Park District’s Gillson Park this year. In these cases, MGG’s Technical Assistance Program will develop an adaptive management plan that strives to eliminate the need for herbicide applications in three to five years. This plan follows Lawnandland.org’s Flywheel Weed Management approach and details strategies for (1) Investigation, planning and prevention, (2) Plant and seed selection, (3) Alternative invasive weed management and (4) Evaluation and improvement.
2,4-D and three-way herbicides
2,4-D is the most applied herbicide by the US lawn and garden sector. 2,4-D targets dicot weeds such as dandelions, clover and plantains, but does little harm to monocots or grasses. This selective behavior of 2,4-D enables lawn care providers to broadcast spray these products to inhibit weeds and not harm the lawn.
Common trade names of 2,4-D products include Trimec, Speedzone and Triplet. These products are called three-way herbicides because they have additional active ingredients of dicamba and either one of MCPP or MCPA.
MGG has multiple concerns with three-way herbicides. First, three-way herbicide applications in lawns and gardens generally occur on a routine basis and cover the entire lawn. Second, surveys and research have observed drift of 2,4-D and dicamba products resulting in damage of off-target trees and plants. The Chicago Tribune released an article this August covering this drift issue. Finally, human health studies have identified an association of long-term exposure to 2,4-D and dicamba with increased risk of developing certain cancers and other diseases.
An organic or reduced-risk herbicide will not replace three-way herbicide applications for lawns and athletic fields. However, MGG’s natural lawn care approach will reduce the need for three-way herbicides by building a dense and deeply-rooted turfgrass system that will outcompete weeds for air, water, nutrients and sunlight. MGG will host a free Schoolyard Maintenance Virtual Workshop on September 26th where I will share this message one more time. Natural lawn care tips for your own yard can be found at bit.ly/MGGlawn.
Neonicotinoids
Efforts to protect pollinators have brought neonicotinoid use to the forefront. Plants absorb neonicotinoids and translocate them through their entire vascular system. These systemic chemicals can reach plant pollen and nectar enjoyed by bees, butterflies, birds and other pollinators. Exposure to these insecticides can slow an animal’s nervous system resulting in limited mobility, reduced learning ability and even death.
Neonicotinoid active ingredients include imidacloprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, acetamiprid, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam and thiacloprid. Most neonicotinoid lawn and garden products target grubs, flower pests and invasive insect pests such as the emerald ash borer.
Fortunately, many alternatives to neonicotinoids exist. Diatomaceous earth and neem oil can kill many pests and not harm bees, butterflies and lady bugs. Peppermint, thyme and rosemary oils will repel common lawn and garden insect pests. To manage grubs naturally refer to my blog post a couple of years ago at bit.ly/MGGgrub.
Many nurseries do grow plants with neonicotinoids despite the alternatives. I recommend referring to the Xerces Society’s “Buying Bee-Safe Plants” factsheet to find plants not grown with these products.
MGG in Action: Next Steps
Alternatives exist for any lawn and garden pesticide. If you still feel overwhelmed, please reach out to MGG for technical support. Even after I leave in September of 2024, MGG will continue to identify sustainable landscaping through Green Shield Certified for Landscapes, teach sustainable landscaping through the Lawn and Land Forum and implement sustainable landscaping through the Technical Assistance Program.
For those I have worked with in the past, thank you for supporting MGG’s vision of making all public and private parks, playing fields and outdoor landscapes in the Midwest organic by 2030. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift to MGG’s sustainable landscaping work at bit.ly/MGGgive. Thank you!
Ryan Anderson
Leader of MGG from 2015 until 2024
