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Buy Neonicotinoid-free Bulbs

One of the ironies of gardening for bees is that some of the very plants we choose to help bees might be harming them. There’s been some concern that many conventionally grown bulbs are sprayed with neonicotinoids, which can then stay in the flower for weeks (if not months) afterwards, potentially affecting any flying insects who visit them. There’s a growing number of companies who provide zero-pesticide bulbs – such as the Organic Gardening Catalogue, Crocus or Natural Bulbs – but garden centres are also beginning to stock sustainable bulbs (see Directory, p. 125).