green living
Pollinator Haven
CREATE A TOXIN-FREE YARD FOR CRITICAL CRITTERS by Sandra Yeyati
A
imée Code has stopped trying to grow roses in her Eugene, Oregon, backyard, where the ground is too muddy for them to flourish. If we stick to plants that do well in our own region, they’ll be less susceptible to disease and pests, and we won’t need to use dangerous chemicals in our gardens, says the pesticide program director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Code works to preserve invertebrate species that are threatened by habitat loss, climate change and pesticides. “Many of these animals provide valuable services,” she says. “Solitary wasps feed their young certain caterpillars that we consider pests because they eat our crops. Riverbed mussels filter our water. Stone flies help break down organic matter. Bees are effective pollinators, helping to sustain our most nutritious food sources.” U.S. bees are declining at alarming rates, thanks in part to neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides, Code reports. The good news is that a few gardening modifications can provide food and safe haven for beneficial invertebrates, while keeping our families (and pets) free from scary chemicals.
Gardening Tips from Aimée Code Create a resilient garden with hardy, native plants that invite both pollinators and natural enemies like solitary wasps, lacewings and hoverflies, which help control pest populations. Use restraint when trimming plants or clearing debris. Many bees create nests inside pithy stems and downed wood or underneath bunch grasses and fallen leaves. Develop a greater tolerance for weeds, embracing a slightly wilder garden aesthetic.
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JULY 2022
Avoid using herbicides by mulching and manually pulling weeds before they go to seed. A few pests in the vegetable garden are okay, as long as they don’t harm overall production. Search online for non-chemical solutions by vegetable type and location. As in farming, try rotating crops or look into companion planting to learn which plants work well together. Ensure the soil has what each plant needs. For example, blueberries require an acidic soil. Pesticides address the symptom rather than the problem. Killing pests may be a temporary fix, but won’t address the underlying cause, so the problem will likely return. Even so-called “reduced risk” products contain concerning chemicals for pollinators. Always try non-chemical solutions first. For example, instead of applying a fungicide to address powdery mildew, water the affected plant less and prune it to improve air flow. HOUSTON METRO EDITION
