Aphids, Beneficial Bugs, and Why We Don't Use Neonicotinoid Pesticides

If you've found aphids on your hanging baskets, don't panic. Aphids are a common part of gardening, especially during the warm summer months.

One of the questions we're often asked is, "Why don't you spray for them before I buy my baskets?"

The answer is simple: we don't use neonicotinoid pesticides.

Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that are absorbed by the plant and can remain active for up to three months. They are very effective at controlling aphids, but they can also affect pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as beneficial insects that naturally help keep garden pests under control.

Instead, we use insecticidal soap in our greenhouse. Insecticidal soap works only by direct contact with the aphids and leaves no residual pesticide on the plant after it dries. This makes it a much safer choice for pollinators and beneficial insects. Because it has no lasting effect, however, aphids can return after the plants leave our greenhouse.

Those beneficial insects include lady beetles and lacewings. Both are voracious aphid predators. A single lady beetle can eat dozens of aphids each day, while lacewing larvae—often called "aphid lions"—can consume hundreds during their development. These natural predators are an important part of a healthy garden ecosystem.

Because we don't use neonicotinoids, these beneficial insects are free to do what nature intended. If you're patient, you may even notice lady beetles or lacewing larvae appearing on your baskets and beginning to reduce the aphid population naturally.

If the aphids become more than you'd like, insecticidal soap from your local garden centre is a safe and effective solution. Spray the entire plant, paying special attention to the undersides of the leaves where aphids like to hide. Since insecticidal soap only works on contact, thorough coverage is essential, and repeat applications may be needed. Always follow the label directions.

At the end of the day, we'd rather grow plants that support bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects than rely on long-lasting pesticides. It may mean you occasionally have to deal with a few aphids, but we believe it's a small trade-off for a healthier, more natural garden.

Thank you for supporting pollinator-friendly gardening.