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  Lawns and Gardens
   
baby on grass with flower woman tending roses man raking leaves

The use of certain chemical pesticides and maintenance tools on lawns and gardens can contribute to pollution of our soil, water and air, and can pose a risk to good health.

The City of Toronto promotes a natural approach to lawn and garden care, by restricting pesticide use and encouraging water efficient landscape design. Also help clean our air by recycling your old, polluting lawn care equipment through "Cut it Out Toronto!".



Natural Approach

Healthy Yards Program
woman and children laying on grass Healthy Yards is a Toronto and Region Conservation program designed to give homeowners the tools and information they need for chemical-free lawns and gardens.

The goal is to attract desirable wildlife and create a healthy environment for families and neighbours.

You can find out more from Toronto and Region Conservation.

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Integrated Pest Management Program
baby sitting on grass touching a sunflower The City's Integrated Pest Management Program starts with an understanding of how plants grow and function in urban areas. This program attempts to balance human needs, general quality of life and the health of plants in the stressful urban environment.

Details about how to manage pests in a natural way can be found in Toronto Public Health's Pesticide Free: Natural Lawn Guide, in the Pest Management... the Natural Way section (pdf).

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Wise Water Use

Watering the Lawn
use a rain gauge on your lawn to avoid over watering The City encourages homeowners to water their lawns at non-peak hours (7 a.m. to 10 a.m.) to reduce pressure on the water system and to reduce overall water use (and related costs). The City of Toronto's outdoor water program offers seasonal tips to educate homeowners on ways to reduce outdoor water use.

Most people overwater their lawm. Experts say you only need 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water, a week, including rainfall, to maintain a vibrant healthy lawn. Rain gauges are available to help residents monitor their use of water for lawns. For a free rain gauge, attend your local Community Environment Day.

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Yard Waste and Maintenance

Yard Waste Collection Program
Yard waste collection You can compost your yard waste or spread fallen leaves as nutrient-rich mulch on gardens. Any eligible yard waste you have left over may be put out for curbside collection and composting by the City.

Compost is a rich soil amendment that improves soil structure, texture, aeration and the ability of the soil to retain moisture - all necessary for healthy plant growth. Managing organic materials in environmentally-friendly ways helps to divert more than 100,000 tonnes of waste from landfill annually.

More information about the Yard Waste Collection Program.

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Cut it Out Toronto!
Older gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, such as leaf blowers, lawnmowers and trimmers, emit high levels of pollutants into the air. In fact, according to Environment Canada, running an older, gas-powered lawnmower from the year 2000 for one hour creates the same amount of pollution as driving a new car from Toronto to Ottawa.

"Cut it Out Toronto!" invites you to take action to help clean our air by responsibly recycling your older gas-powered lawn care equipment and upgrading to newer, cleaner alternatives. Contact a member of the Ontario Automotive Recyclers Association to find a recycling depot near you. http://www.oara.com/

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