Free green gardening tips

Toronto Public Health is joining forces with major home and garden retailers to help residents follow Toronto’s pesticide bylaw. Starting this weekend, experts from will be on-site at various Canadian Tire and Home Depot stores and Humber and Sheridan nurseries to provide tips on using natural products to protect lawns from weeds and pests and the safe disposal of unwanted pesticides.

“Toronto’s pesticide bylaw is working,” says Toronto medical officer of health Dr. David McKeown. “Since the bylaw was passed in 2004, residents are using fewer pesticides and more natural alternatives.” Dr. McKeown released a report last year showing that by the second year of the bylaw, Toronto homeowners reported 35% less pesticide use.

Pesticide bylaw presentations:
Saturday, May 10
10am - 12pm
Canadian Tire (Keele St. and St. Clair Ave. W.)

10am - 12pm
Canadian Tire (Leslie St. and Sheppard Ave. E.)

Saturday, May 17
10am - 2pm
Home Depot Gerrard Square (1000 Gerrard St. E.)

Sunday, May 18
10am - 2pm
Home Depot Leaside (101 Wickstead Ave.)

Saturday, May 24
10am - 2pm
Humber Nurseries (8386 Hwy 50)

Saturday, June 7
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sheridan Nurseries (784 Sheppard Ave. E.)

10am - 2pm
Sheridan Nurseries (2827 Yonge St.)

Sunday, June 8
10am - 2pm
Sheridan Nurseries (1774 Ellesmere Rd.)

10am - 2pm
Sheridan Nurseries (2069 Burnamthorpe Rd. E.)

Residents can also find information about the bylaw and natural products at retailers across Toronto, via the city’s Community Environment Days, online at www.toronto.ca/pesticides, or by calling 416.338.7600.