Edmonds Landscape and Construction Services Ltd.

In 2000, Halifax Regional Municipality became the first large city in North America to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides on residential and government properties. Our customers can be comforted by the fact that our Company, alone, has been involved in scientific research and practical application towards achieving pesticide-free lawncare for more than 11 years.

1989

Edmonds made the commitment to reduce use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers to the lowest possible levels, and still remain competitive in the landscape industry. To promote the change, Edmonds Environmental Services was formed as a new division of the company.
The office instituted a paper recycling policy.
An IPM (Integrated Pest Management) system was implemented.
Approximately 20% of turfs were put on chemical-free management regimes.
Edmonds collaborated with a local topsoil producer to take yard wastes and compost them.
A detailed record-keeping system was implemented to determine the degree of success of the new procedures.
Edmonds received the 1989 Nova Scotia Environmental Council Award in the Business/Industrial Category.

1990

An Employee Seminar Series was initiated. Over 1990/91 it involved 14 seminars on alternatives to chemical pesticides and fertilizers in landscaping . Researchers and practitioners from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Dalhousie University and Industry spoke on topics such as Integrated Pest Management, use of native species and organic soil management.
Edmonds conducted commercial level trials of two fish based fertilizers produced on a pilot scale basis by National Sea Products. The following year, National Sea began marketing the products in retail outlets under the "Seagreen" logo.
Most bag mowers were replaced by mulch mowers in order to recycle grass clippings directly to the soil.
Edmonds introduced a Backyard Compost Bin Program. Properties receiving the full property maintenance services could opt to include a backyard compost bin at no additional cost. It was later extended to other landscape maintenance clients.

1991

Edmonds formally introduced its Pro-Lawn program. From the announcement: "This program does not use synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers but instead relies on organic and natural fertilizers, aeration, dethatching, liming, soil testing and constant monitoring of a lawn's condition to help promote a strong, vigorous growing turf."
A research project was conducted under the supervision of Prof. David Patriquin at Dalhousie University to determine optimum levels of Seagreen for turf. This was the first of many such projects in which replicated experimental treatments are superimposed on commercially maintained sites.
First trials on the use of Dutch White Clover in lawn mixes.
Research project at Dalhousie University and practical trials on use of brewery wastes as dormant feed fertilizers.
Edmonds supported and was highly active in the anti-incineration/pro-composting movement in Halifax. It led to the city scrapping plans to incinerate wastes, and instead, becoming the national leader in the recycling and composting of the waste stream. See Press Release.
Edmonds received the prestigious Canadian Award for Business Excellence (CABE) Environment category.The award was given in recognition of Edmonds' success in changing over from a synthetic chemical approach in landscape management to an organic system of lawn, garden and tree-care.

1992

With the collaboration of biologist David Patriquin of Dalhousie University, and the cooperation of Saint Mary's University, an extensive, 3-year research project on Total System Organic Management for Turfs (TSOM) was initiated. It received support from the Canada-Nova Scotia Sustainable Economic Development Agreement.
- "The Oaks Experiments" were the public demonstration component and the major research component. The experiments, conducted on the grounds of "The Oaks" at Saint Mary's University, examined the effects of different turf mixes, soil amendments, and cutting regimes on organically maintained turf.
- Public and Industry Workshops on organic management of turf were held at The Oaks in the fall of 1992, and over each of the next two years.
A related study was initated on commercial properties by agronomist Maggie Hope-Simpson. This study compared vegetation and physical, biological and chemical properties of soils from Edmonds serviced properties that had different management histories. The objective was to determine which soil variables best predict site productivity under organic management.

1993

The "First Lake Watershed Management Project" was commissioned by Edmonds and the residents of the First Lake Community, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. The objective was to promote and then test the efficacy of "neighborhood stewardship" as a means of reducing phosphorus and bacteria input into a local lake. The results were reported in a 1994 Oceans Conference.

1994

Edmonds was featured on CBC's "The Nature of Things", hosted by David Suzuki. It focused on the decision of John and Roger Edmonds to radically change their Halifax based landscaping business.
Agronomist Brice Walsh began working with the company to conduct further research related to organic management.

1995

Edmonds was awarded the prestigious 'Ecologo' from TerraChoice Industries Inc., an agency of Environment Canada. The use of The Ecologo means that Edmonds holds leading edge technology for environmentally sustainable services. The company must be recertified every two years to continue to hold the logo.
The TSOM for Turf Experiments were extended for another year. Dalhousie honors student Greg MacAskill documented nutrient removal from bag-mowed and mulch-mowed turf under two different fertility regimes at The Oaks.

1996-97

A final, 370 page report on The Oaks Experiments (1996) and a 28 page summary version (1998) were produced and made available to the public.
New seeding techniques and mixes were implemented by Edmonds' crews; these are particularly suited to renovating rundown turf.
A new set of research trials were initiated by Brice Walsh; they focussed on use of compost for top-dressing of turf, and manual control of weeds in turf.

1998-99

Local topsoils and composts were surveyed, and in the early fall a topsoil experiment was set up under the supervision of David Patriquin and Dalhousie graduate student Jennifer Van Dommelin. This study stemmed from Edmonds' difficulties with "manufactured topsoils". It investigates the effect of different soil textures and different quantities and types of compost on turf quality over several years.
A set of experiments related to clover establishment and maintenance were initiated, supervised by Brice Walsh and David Patriquin.
Edmonds employee Eric O'Brien was appointed to the Municipality's Pesticide By-Law Advisory Committee, charged with developing a by-law to restrict cosmetic use of pesticides in HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality).

2000 and ongoing

Ongoing since 1989: tests of new products. Since 1989, Edmonds has conducted trials and experiments to determine the effectiveness of new products for organic management as they have come on the market, or by special arrangement with the producers, before they entered the general market. Products tested have included:
- A pilot plant fish silage product for control of disease
- Brand name organic fertilizers
- Brand name organic weed sprays
- Insecticidal soaps for control of pests and diseases
- Salt applications for control of weeds
- Steam wands for control of weeds
- Infrared lasers for control of weeds
- Organic pepper sprays for control of pests
- Top-dressing and overseeding machinery
In June, Edmonds initiated a final phasing out of all pesticide use by the company. All properties are manually weeded if the initial weed population is low. A weed content of greater than 10-20% qualifies for once-only spraying before switching to an organic program; a 3-year commitment must be made by the property owner to make this viable.
A mowing height requirement policy is being developed that requires Edmonds employees to cut grass only when it reaches the specified cutting height. Turf is systematically measured and then cut to a minimum height as determined by the particular requirements of the individual landscape.
Edmonds began a program to encourage all customers to adopt clover as a component of their turfs. Customers received information via mail and in person about about the benefits of clover and diverse seed mixes and addressing their concerns.
Edmonds made presentations in support of the proposed bylaw to restrict cosmetic use of pesticides in HRM to public hearings held by HRM council. On July 11, the bylaw passed first reading by a vote of 17 to 6.

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