What is the City doing to reduce pesticides on public property?
As noted above, pesticides have been eliminated from use on city-owned property with some exceptions noted below. The City has adopted a turf maintenance program based on preventative horticultural practices such as aeration, fertilization, irrigation, over-seeding (applying grass seed to existing turf) and topdressing (spreading a layer of enriching material on top of turf). Pesticides are used on a limited basis at city-owned and operated Tyandaga Golf Course and the lawn bowling green, particularly due to the specialized turf at these locations, which can be susceptible to disease. Tyandaga Golf Course staff have embarked on accreditation in Integrated Pest Management as well as in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. These programs require staff to monitor the following – turf conditions, use of cultural practices and pesticides, irrigation practices, wildlife, and enhance naturalized areas. The City may also use pesticides on City-owned or managed property w
