End of a Killing Era

Today marked the end of an annual tradition at the Robinson House, killing the yard with Dursban (Chlorpyrifos). After it was banned in 2000, i stockpiled the stuff; making great use of the clearance sales of the stuff at the local home centers.

I fell in love with the chemical shortly after moving into our first house. The previous residents had brought in some top-soil and planted some grass just before putting it on the market. I believe that was the source of the bugs...though i could be wrong. We had all kinds of bugs: grasshoppers, spiders, ants, and beetles to name a few. We needed bug control.

Odds are i picked up my first bottle of Dursban because of the massively long list of bugs on the label that it purported to eradicate. I grabbed a hose-end dial sprayer to round-out the shopping trip.

I applied it on a Saturday morning. Combine a small property with a long hose and you have a recipe for a quick application of the chemical to the entire yard. Dursban has a unique odor when applied. It is not unpleasant nor harsh; sort of like a febreze toxica.

What i remember, most vividly, to this day is Saturday evening. Walking outside the smell was still noticeable, but so was the silence. Our yard was quiet; still and quiet.

I had no idea how loud our yard was until that day. The change in ambient noise outside our house was that noticeable.

Dursban was ultimately banned by the EPA because they felt it could be used to fight noise pollution. I could be wrong about that.

I have used Dursban once or twice a year since 1999. Partly to control critters and partly to bring peace and quiet to our community. I fear this may be the last year of tranquility...unless i can find a better chemical. DDT? anyone?