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Pesticides

Create a Wildlife Oasis in Your Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Wildlife Habitats

by Donna May 6, 2024

written by Donna 2 minutes read

Wildlife Habitats in Your Garden

What is a Habitat?

A habitat is a place where animals and plants live. It provides them with everything they need to survive, like food, water, shelter, and a place to raise their young.

Creating Wildlife Habitats in Your Garden

You can create wildlife habitats in your garden no matter how big or small it is. Here are some ideas:

Wildlife Pond: A pond provides a home for frogs, toads, dragonflies, and other aquatic creatures.
Hedgehog House: Hedgehogs need a place to hibernate in the winter. You can build them a house out of wood or cardboard.
Bird Box: Birds need a place to nest and raise their young. You can buy or build a bird box and put it in your garden.

Other Ways to Help Wildlife

In addition to creating habitats, there are other things you can do to help wildlife in your garden:

Plant native plants: Native plants provide food and shelter for local wildlife.
Avoid using pesticides and herbicides: These chemicals can harm wildlife.
Make your garden a safe place for birds: Keep cats indoors and put up bird feeders.
Provide water: Put out a shallow dish of water for wildlife to drink from.

Benefits of Wildlife Habitats

Creating wildlife habitats in your garden has many benefits, including:

More wildlife: A garden with wildlife habitats will attract more animals and plants.
Natural pest control: Wildlife can help to control pests in your garden.
Educational opportunities: Watching wildlife can be a great way to learn about nature.
Sense of peace and tranquility: A garden filled with wildlife can be a peaceful and relaxing place to spend time.

Conclusion

Creating wildlife habitats in your garden is a great way to help wildlife and enjoy the benefits of nature. With a little effort, you can create a garden that is a haven for wildlife and a joy to behold.

Gardening Techniques

Supporting Pollinators in the Garden: A Guide to Choosing the Right Plants and Avoiding Harmful Ones

by Gregory October 12, 2023

written by Gregory 3 minutes read

The Importance of Pollinators in the Garden

Pollinators, such as bees, are essential for our natural ecosystem and for producing the fruits and vegetables we eat. Even if you don’t grow food, you should provide plants that encourage pollinators to support their numbers, which are dwindling in some areas.

Choosing the Right Plants for Pollinators

The key to supporting pollinators is choosing the right plants. Bees, for example, are attracted to flowers that produce nectar and pollen. However, bees cannot see the color red very well, so red flowers are not a good choice for attracting them.

Some plants, such as cucurbits (cucumbers, squashes, and melons), will not attract bumblebees or honeybees. In fact, feeding on cucurbit pollen can actually harm bumblebees and limit their reproduction.

Plants that are Harmful to Bees

Some plants are directly harmful to bees. These include:

Toxic plants: Some members of the Tilia genus (lime trees or lindens) are toxic to bumblebees. When bees feed on these species, they experience a narcotic effect and might even die.
Yellow jessamine: This common ornamental plant in the southeastern U.S. produces bright yellow flowers with a delicious smell. However, the nectar and pollen kill some bees. A honeybee that feeds on this plant can die within a day.
Swamp titi: This small, shrubby tree is native to the southeastern U.S. and produces pretty clusters of white flowers. The fragrant flowers attract honeybees, but the nectar brought back to hives causes harm. Beekeepers report purple brood, a condition that causes bee larvae to turn purple and die.
Swallow-wort: These invasive species are toxic to monarch butterflies. Butterflies see this plant as a milkweed and lay their eggs on it. Unfortunately, the larvae do not survive on this toxic plant.

Invasive Plants

Invasive plants are another threat to pollinators. These non-native species crowd out native plants that pollinators need. Some pollinators are generalists, adapting to whatever plants are available. Others require just a few specific plants to feed. If invasives outcompete these plants, certain pollinators will suffer.

Tips for Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Here are some tips for creating a pollinator-friendly garden:

Choose a variety of plants that bloom throughout the year. This will provide a continuous source of food for pollinators.
Plant native species whenever possible. Native plants are adapted to your local climate and soil conditions, and they provide food and habitat for native pollinators.
Avoid using pesticides. Pesticides can kill pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Provide water sources for pollinators. Bees and other pollinators need water to survive.
Create a nesting area for pollinators. Bees and other pollinators need places to nest and raise their young.

By following these tips, you can create a beautiful and welcoming garden that supports pollinators and other wildlife.

Wildlife Gardening

Wildlife Gardening for Beginners: 10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Wilder Garden

by Gregory September 4, 2022

written by Gregory 3 minutes read

Wildlife Gardening for Beginners

What is Wildlife Gardening?

Wildlife gardening is creating a space in your yard to help wildlife thrive. You can do this by planting certain plants, creating habitats like log piles and ponds, and avoiding harmful chemicals.

Benefits of Wildlife Gardening

Provides homes for wildlife
Helps slow down species decline
Improves mental health
Supports pollinators

New Year’s Resolutions for Wildlife

Here are 10 ways to make your garden more wildlife-friendly:

1. Plant a Tree

Planting a tree benefits wildlife, the planet, and you. Choose trees that provide food and shelter, like rowan, hawthorn, or crab apple.

2. Let Grass Grow Long

Even a small patch of long grass can be a haven for wildlife. It provides food, shelter, and nesting sites for insects, small mammals, and birds.

3. Stop Using Pesticides

Pesticides kill wildlife indiscriminately. Instead, use organic pest control methods or let natural predators keep pests in check.

4. Grow Plants for Pollinators

Pollinators need flowers to survive. Plant a variety of flowers that bloom throughout the year to support them.

5. Set Up a Compost Heap

Compost heaps provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife, including birds, hedgehogs, and beetles.

6. Be Nice to Dandelions

Dandelions provide early food for pollinators and caterpillars. Tolerate a few in your garden to support wildlife.

7. Be Less Tidy

Leaving leaves and spent perennials can provide shelter for wildlife over winter.

8. Put Up a Nest Box

Birds need safe places to nest. Put up nest boxes to encourage them to breed in your garden.

9. Add Water

A pond or even a bird bath can provide water for drinking, bathing, and breeding for wildlife.

10. Talk to Your Neighbors

Spread the word about wildlife gardening to encourage your neighbors to help wildlife too.

Gardening Techniques

Chemicals in the Garden: The Pros and Cons | Gardening Tips and Tools

by Gregory June 19, 2022

written by Gregory 3 minutes read

Chemicals in the Garden: The Pros and Cons

Introduction

Many people use chemicals in their gardens to control pests and diseases. However, there are both pros and cons to using chemicals in the garden. It’s important to weigh the benefits and risks before deciding whether or not to use chemicals in your garden.

Benefits of Using Chemicals in the Garden

Pest control: Pesticides can help to control pests that can damage plants.
Disease control: Herbicides can help to control diseases that can kill plants.
Weed control: Herbicides can help to control weeds that can compete with plants for water and nutrients.
Increased crop yields: Pesticides and herbicides can help to increase crop yields by protecting plants from pests and diseases.
Improved plant quality: Pesticides and herbicides can help to improve the quality of plants by preventing them from being damaged by pests and diseases.

Drawbacks of Using Chemicals in the Garden

Harmful to beneficial insects: Pesticides can kill beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and bees, which can lead to an increase in pest populations.
Pesticide resistance: Pests can develop resistance to pesticides, making them less effective over time.
Environmental pollution: Pesticides and herbicides can pollute the environment, harming wildlife and human health.
Pesticide poisoning: Pesticides can be poisonous to humans and animals if they are not used properly.

Alternatives to Using Chemicals in the Garden

There are a number of alternatives to using chemicals in the garden, including:

Organic gardening: Organic gardening is a method of gardening that does not use synthetic pesticides or herbicides.
Companion planting: Companion planting is a method of planting different plants together that can help to repel pests and diseases.
Natural pest control: There are a number of natural methods of pest control, such as using insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Weed control: There are a number of natural methods of weed control, such as mulching or hand-pulling weeds.

Conclusion

The decision of whether or not to use chemicals in the garden is a personal one. There are both pros and cons to using chemicals, and it’s important to weigh the benefits and risks before making a decision. If you do decide to use chemicals, be sure to use them safely and according to the instructions on the label.

Gardening

Neonicotinoids: A Threat to Bees and What We Can Do About It

by Gregory August 22, 2020

written by Gregory 3 minutes read

Neonicotinoids: A Threat to Bees

Imagine a world without bees. No buzzing around flowers, no sweet honey to enjoy, and no pollination of fruits and vegetables. It’s a scary thought, but it’s a real possibility if we don’t take action to protect bees from neonicotinoids.

What are Neonicotinoids?

Neonicotinoids are a type of pesticide that is used to kill insects. They are similar to nicotine, which is a natural insecticide found in tobacco plants. Neonicotinoids are often used to protect crops from pests, but they can also harm bees and other beneficial insects.

How Neonicotinoids Harm Bees

Neonicotinoids work by blocking certain nerve signals in insects. This can lead to paralysis and death. Bees are particularly sensitive to neonicotinoids because they are exposed to them through the pollen and nectar of treated plants.

Even small amounts of neonicotinoids can harm bees. Studies have shown that exposure to neonicotinoids can interfere with honeybee reproduction, navigation, and foraging abilities.

The Dangers of Neonicotinoids to Pollinators

Bees are essential pollinators for many plants, including fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Without bees, our food supply would be severely impacted.

Neonicotinoids pose a serious threat to bees and other pollinators. Studies have shown that neonicotinoids can kill bees outright, or weaken them to the point where they are more susceptible to disease or parasites.

What Can We Do?

There are a number of things we can do to help protect bees from neonicotinoids:

Buy organic produce. Organic produce is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, including neonicotinoids.
Choose less toxic pesticides. If you must use pesticides, choose products that are less toxic to bees.
Support beekeepers. Beekeepers are working hard to protect bees from neonicotinoids and other threats. You can support their efforts by buying local honey and beeswax products.
Plant bee-friendly flowers. Bees are attracted to flowers that are blue, purple, yellow, or white. Plant these flowers in your garden to provide bees with a food source.

Alternatives to Neonicotinoids

There are a number of alternatives to neonicotinoids that are less harmful to bees. These alternatives include:

Insecticidal soap
Neem oil
Beneficial insects

How to Identify and Avoid Neonicotinoid-Treated Plants

Neonicotinoids are often used to treat plants at nurseries and garden centers. To avoid buying neonicotinoid-treated plants, look for the following label information:

EPA Registration Number: This number will start with the letters “EPA Reg. No.” followed by a series of numbers.
Active Ingredients: Neonicotinoids will be listed as one of the active ingredients on the label.

If you are unsure whether or not a plant has been treated with neonicotinoids, ask a nursery employee for help.

Conclusion

Neonicotinoids are a serious threat to bees and other pollinators. By taking action to reduce our use of neonicotinoids, we can help to protect these important insects and ensure the future of our food supply.