Edmonton council faces decision on whether to spray dandelions

Edmonton city councillors will be presented with seven options Tuesday for how to deal with dandelions on city sports fields and parks.

• Edmonton parkland drowning in a sea of yellow

• Herbicide back in arsenal as Edmonton battles dandelions on sports fields

A new report going before city council includes four options that call forthe use of non-conventional or eco-herbicides, and three that don't involve any herbicides.

The most expensive option includes $4.3 million to install irrigation on 43 high-use sports fields, and $11 million to purchase additional mowing equipment so the grass on fields and parks can be cut more often.

The cheapest option calls for an increase in the number of mowing cycles over the summer months, which will boost operating costs by $2 million each year.

An explosion of dandelions this springresulted in a decision by city officials to spraysports fields with herbicides at the end of June.

"Edmontonians would like better management of dandelions," according to the report prepared for council. "Administration recommends adopting a more proactive approach to weed control."