Neonic-Free Plants—Buyer Beware
I generally try to avoid writing a lot about the same issue for fear of boring people to death or seeming like a nutter who can’t stop ranting about one thing or another. In the case of neonicotinoid pesticides, though, I’ve received so many calls and emails on this topic since I started writing about it a few months back, I feel like updates are wanted and needed. So I’m going to go with that feeling and tell you more about what I’ve learned lately in hopes that this will help answer some questions you may have now that you’ve likely learned more about this issue too.
First, here’s a quick recap for those who don’t yet know about neonicotinoids. Neonics, as they are often called, are a class of pesticides that have been linked to the decline of bees, particularly honeybees, over the last decade. Because they are safer for humans than some other pesticides, neonics have become widely used in the nursery trade as a pre-treatment for annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. They are also found in many of the common pest control products gardeners buy off the shelf and use every day for everything from Japanese beetles to emerald ash borer. (Neonic pesticides include: imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nithiazine, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam.)
Now that studies have shown that small amounts of neonics can harm bees feeding on the pollen and nectar of treated plants while larger doses can kill, more and more gardeners are making it a point to stop using products that contain neonics and to shop for plants that haven’t been treated with the pesticides. I’ve heard from a lot of people who have called, visited and emailed garden centers and nurseries locally and nationally asking about the use of neonics.
Stories vary widely with some places eagerly sharing their plans to discontinue their own use of neonics and to seek out suppliers who will do the same. But I’ve also heard reports of a fair amount of denial and defensiveness. What you need to know is that it isn’t enough for a retailer to say THEY are not using neonics any longer on the plants that they grow. You also need to know whether the plants they get from outside suppliers are neonic free. Getting that information will take willingness and time on the part of the nursery and from what I’m hearing, it’s clear that not everyone is putting in the effort.
If you ask about neonics and get an immediate, “Yep, we are neonic free!” I would suggest probing a bit more deeply to find out what they mean by that. If it seems too good to be true that the people at the booth outside the grocery store with all kinds of affordable plants say that everything is free of neonics, it is probably too good to be true.
Even if you go to a place that you trust that sells mostly organically grown or pesticide-free plants, ask before you buy. I went to Tangletown Gardens last week and bought some annuals for my garden. Yes, they did cost more than I usually spend on annuals but I know the owners grew the plants themselves and I can trust that they’re free of chemicals. But I also noticed that they carry Proven Winners annuals. I know that Proven Winners is not neonic free because I used to be one of the writers who tries out their new varieties in my gardens and I had to decline this year because of this issue. The cashier readily acknowledged that the Proven Winners plants are not neonic free, explaining that they carry them because gardeners love and ask for Proven Winners annuals. People—this is us being part of the problem and we need to change that.
We also don’t need to freak out. I’ve gotten several emails from people asking if they should rip out their gardens for fear that their plants contain neonics that are continuing to harm bees. I don’t think that’s necessary, though some may disagree. I’m sure most of our gardens contain neonics these days, but the good news is that the chemicals do dissipate over time.
University of Minnesota Entomologist Vera Krischik has been studying the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides, particularly imidacloprid, for years. She says that neonics are commonly applied to plants as foliar sprays and soil drenches. Because the pesticide is systemic, it is taken up by the entire plant and can even spread into the surrounding soil. Depending on the type of neonic and the amount used, one application of foliar spray can last up to four or five months in herbaceous plants and about a year in woody plants.
Soil drenches, which are commonly used on roses and trees, can last two years or even longer. Residual rates are higher in plants that have been treated more than once. Seeds are also treated with neonics so that the developing plant will contain the pesticide. As far as Krischik knows, though, the pesticide is used only on seeds for agricultural crops such as canola and corn at this time, so this shouldn’t be an issue for home gardeners shopping for seeds. To find out more about neonics and their effects on bees and other insects, check out the Xerces Society website.
Kent
Thanks for continuing to write about this issue. I talked with a member of the Northeastern Minnesota Beekeepers Association last fall and learned of an effort to determine which greenhouses in this area (Duluth) carry neonics free plant materials. They posted a short list here: http://nemnbeekeepers.org/Northeastern_Minnesota_Beekeepers_Association/Help_Bees.html This issue gave me the push I needed to start virtually all my plants (several hundred) inside from seed this year.
I’m disappointed in Tangletown Gardens, which is a frequent stop for me when I’m in the Twin Cities. I already avoided Proven Winners, as I’m philosophical opposed to patenting of plants and won’t pay for anything I’m not free to propagate.
Earl Rand
Don’t give up writing about chemicals. They are ugly.
Consider including in your articles other criticisms of chemicals and including advice on organic methods.
In EVERY case of plant damage I have faced over many years of gardening, I have ALWAYS found the physical solutions (answers) have worked better than poisons.
Chris
Many plants are grown by nurseries using “plugs” who then grow them organically or pesticide free. Can anyone share if these plugs are neonic free?
Meleah
Hi Chris,
Depending on the supplier, plugs can be treated with neonics. Fortunately, though, if the nursery growing out the plugs don’t use neonics, the chemicals will dissipate quite a bit before the plant is actually sold to gardeners. – Meleah
kathy
I am very interested in helping out the bees and environment. Does anyone know of local gardening centers that are know to be pesticide free?
Corner Garden Sue
After physical therapy today, my car took me to the nearby Kaw Valley outside plant stand to see about getting a few annuals for a couple wash tubs. I asked the young woman working there if the plants were treated with any pesticides, and she said they were grown organically. I didn’t pay attention, and saw that a couple of the plants were Proven Winners, even though they were in the same kind of pots as their other plants. I found this post while looking to see if Proven Winners uses them. I see it’s from 2014. Do you know if they have stopped doing that? I already planted them, but wonder if I should take them out Our yard is a monarch waystation and wildlife habitat.
Maria
An email reply from Proven Winners to me said they do not use neonics, BUT they DO NOT KNOW what their suppliers use. They also said that on occasion, they “spot use” neonics on just a few plants.
So, Proven Winners are not neonic-free. I’ve ordered from High Country Gardens, which have neonic free plants.
Rita Murtagh
Thanks, I have a perennial flower farm . I just bought at a school fundraiser a bunch of pw annuals. I also have bee hives. I will not be planting these or buy any more. Thanks again for the information.