Pesticides pose a threat to bees and pollinators. Luckily, there are many ways to keep your garden healthy and your blooms beautiful without pesticides.

Choose Your Plants Wisely

Avoid creating environments that are attractive to pests. For example, burying trimmed plant material in your garden's soil is an open invitation to unwanted guests -- you've just provided them with a cozy home with plenty of food.  Mulch unwanted plant materials in a container you can close.

You can also avoid garden pests by planting some of the many plant varieties that are disease- and pest-resistant. Look into planting New England or wood aster as disease-resistant varieties and borage or lavender to repel pests while attracting honey bees.

Go All Natural

Consider whether it’s essential to contain the intruders. Beetles, slugs, snails, and other pests are naturally occurring players in a healthy garden, so before you decide to take action, think about how much action is needed. If you see damage that can’t be ignored, there are many natural deterrents to help fight pests.

Try salt around the garden's edge (avoiding the soil) or a shallow cup filled with beer to keep slugs and snails at bay, both natural, bee-friendly pest deterrents. Corn gluten can be applied to the base of weeds as a natural herbicide. Kaolin clay can be mixed with water and sprayed onto the stems, leaves, and bases of plants; the spray dries into a film, protecting your plants from unwanted munching. Remember to spray at night to avoid hitting bees while they are pollinating.

Call in Biological Backup

Biocontrol is a fantastic option for those who want nature to do the work. Use naturally occurring predatory or parasitic relationships to your advantage! For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis thrives in healthy soil and is toxic to pests' intestines. The best part? It isn’t harmful to honey bees –- they’re immune!

Take it a Step Further

Are you interested in planting bee-friendly plants or becoming a backyard beekeeper? These are both great ways to make a difference! Still wondering why bees and pollination are so important? Read about the current global bee crisis and join Planet Bee in changing the world, one bee at a time.