Modern insecticides are powerful, persistent and deadly to bees and other insects. Probably the single most important thing you can do is to stop using them, completely. And don’t be afraid to proselytize. Convince your friends and neighbours to drop the chemical addiction too. Some jurisdictions have already banned or limited pesticide use. There are better ways of dealing with pests – like biological and organic controls.
If you have space in your garden, let some of it go wild to create a safe haven for bees, insects and small mammals. Gardens that are too tidy are not wildlife friendly. So leave some messy spots with dense plantings and brush piles that bees, birds and other animals can use to construct nests. By encouraging natural predators like frogs, toads, spiders, birds and ladybugs you’ll end up with fewer garden pests like aphids and slugs.
