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Ottawa Man Questions Garden Magazine's "Helpful Hints"
MIKE CHRISTIE
MAR 31, 2001

March 31, 2001

Ms. Lorraine Hunter
Editor
Plant and Garden
c/o Helpard Publishing

Dear Ms. Hunter;

Re: Helpful Hints for a Healthy Lawn (Plant and Garden April 2001 Page 8)

The recent article titled "Helpful Hints for a Healthy Lawn" that appeared in the April 2001 issue of Plant and Garden caught my attention when the author was recommending that "To control grubs the best solution is an insecticide spray such as Diazinon".

I wondered why anyone would recommend the use of Diazinon to your Plant and Garden readers given that both the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) recently announced that its use will be phased-out by 2004. Is it still 'safe' to use until then?

For those who happened to watch the 'Nature of Things' documentary titled 'Toxic Legacies' (CBC, March 14th & 18th) and/or PBS's 'Trade Secrets' (March 26th) they will understand why there is a growing concern over the use of chemical pesticides of the synthetic variety in our communities.

Can you help me understand the logic in recommending Diazinon? Are there 'safer' alternatives to controlling grubs that you could recommend?

Regards,

Mike Christie
Nepean Ontario