The harmful impact of pesticides
Pollinators
Just last year alone we saw less bees in the garden. Our plants couldn't survive without the help of our many pollinators such as the bee, in fact most things couldn't survive without the help of many bugs in the garden. If you have never watched " A Bee Movie" I'd suggest giving it a watch because it perfectly explains the connections of how everything in nature such as; trees, flowers, plants and food needs pollination to survive.
The wide-scale application of pesticides is contributing to global biodiversity decline and threatens ecosystem health. The use of pesticides is increasing worldwide, and new substances are continuously being added to the market despite recent efforts to reduce their use.
Insecticides cause most harm to non-target species such as ground beetles, ground nesting solitary bees, parasitic wasps, millipedes, centipedes, earthworms and springtails. Herbicides and fungicides are especially detrimental to earthworms, nematodes and springtails.
aquatic life in rivers.
More than two-thirds of our food crops depend on bees. But Canada, like the rest of the world, is losing its bees to habitat loss, pesticides, climate change and disease. Honey bees have loyal keepers to speak for them. Wild native bees need a voice too. You can be their voice.
What can we do to help?
Some thoughtful gardening and a little planning is all it takes to help our native bees.
- create a pollinator-friendly garden in a sunny, sheltered spot with a diversity of native flowers that will bloom from early spring through the summer and into the fall. Even a small balcony or patio can be stocked with flowering container plants.
- To attract bees, choose blue, yellow and purple flowers.
- Clover in the lawn will supplement food sources in flower beds.
- Pollinators and native plants are adapted to each other having evolved together. No chemicals needed. Native plants may be more attractive to native pollinators than alien ornamentals although there are some exceptions such as herbs. Avoid invasive plants. Make sure any ornamentals you choose are pollen producing – some have been bred – e.g. certain sunflowers – to produce little or no pollen.
- Provide areas that are sunny, with bare soil, good drainage and preferably with slopes facing south. Add some rocks that will get toasty hot in the sun. Most native bees nest underground so avoid using weed cloth or heavy mulch.
Here are some Ontario Native plants you can add to the garden
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