Ag leaders urge home owners to check license status of firms offering to do lawn treatments

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The cold and damp spring is making yard work a challenge, but there is still plenty of time to get Minnesota lawns and landscapes into shape. This spring, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding home owners to avoid problems with professional pesticide and fertilizer applications by checking that the lawn and tree care companies they hire are properly licensed to do the work.

Minnesota law requires anyone hired to apply fertilizers and pesticides, including weed control products, to be licensed by the state. MDA’s licensing program helps ensure that for-hire applicators have the knowledge and training to apply products safely. In the case of lawn applications, required licenses typically include both a company license for the application of fertilizer and an individual applicator license for each person who applies crabgrass control product or another form of weed and pest control to lawns, trees or landscapes.

While most firms comply with the requirements, MDA Inspection and Enforcement Manager John Peckham said every year MDA finds some unlicensed companies and individuals conducting applications.

“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of companies and applicators not properly licensed for the work they are performing,” Peckham said. “This is obviously a concern for us and for people paying them to do lawn work. That’s why our inspectors will be out this spring conducting random checks of companies and persons applying fertilizer and weed control for hire.”

Peckham said companies and individual applicators found to be doing lawn applications without proper licensing may face enforcement action including monetary penalties.

To make sure professional lawn applications are done properly and safely, MDA recommends two steps:

First, ask to see the applicator’s license. Licensed applicators must carry a license identification card with them. MDA’s website also offers a complete list of licensed applicators at www.mda.state.mn.us ;

Second, ask to get a written description of the work. Licensed applicators must provide customers a written record of work. This includes a list of products used and amounts applied.

Consumers can also call the Better Business Bureau at 1-800-646-6222 to ask about complaint information on a particular lawn care company. For more information about applicator licenses, call MDA at (651) 201-6615. To report an unlicensed person making a pesticide or fertilizer application, call (651) 201-6333.

Tags: news, updates, lawn, agriculture, landscape