City says dandelions aren't a growing problem

If you've noticed a lot more dandelions in city parks and boulevards of late, you're not alone.

As the head of the city's Integrated Pest Management department, James Borrow gets these types of complaints all the time.

"We do get calls, people are concerned about the weeds out there," says Borrow.

But, Borrow says first impressions can be deceiving.

First of all, he says a lot of people mistake private property for city land.

And secondly, Borrow says there is still confusion over how broad leaf weeds, like the dandelion, are treated.

That's even though the protocol hasn't changed since 1998, when the city stopped using herbicides for cosmetic reasons.

"For us, we understand that we can never treat to zero tolerance. It will never work for us, and really its not the best approach."

Borrow says city crews will be only be dispatched if the weed-to-turf threshold is breached.