POLLINATOR SAFE BUSINESSES

Shop at Pollinator Safe Retailers! Use these Pollinator Safe Businesses and tell them we sent you!

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What? How are plants not safe for bees? Sadly, it has become an industry-wide practice to preventatively treat nursery plants with systemic pesticides that persist in the plant and soil. A class of systemics called Neonicotinoids (or Neonics) are of particular concern to bees and have become ubiquitous in the industry. Research shows that these toxins can persist in plants from 18 months to 3 years, slowly adding to the toxic load of insects using their flowers for pollen and nectar.

 

As more and more people, communities, and neighborhoods pledge to be “pollinator safe,” consumers want to make sure that the plants and garden products they buy will not harm pollinators. We are continually building our list of Colorado businesses that have pledged to carry pollinator safe plants and products. Nonetheless, it is always important to ask the staff at these businesses whether plants or soil have been treated already with pesticides and whether the plants you are interested in will attract pollinators. You can also ask your favorite nursery for more information and for more transparency about growing practices and plant sources. Please see the lists below of pollinator safe retailers, landscape and lawn care providers, tree care companies, farms, and food companies. We will keep adding to this list!

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A good rule of thumb is to buy organic. All products labeled “organic” should be free of pesticides.

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Click the icons below to see our most recent pollinator-safe

nursery lists for Metro Denver and Northern Colorado!