BeeWise: Rethink Spraying. Reclaim Habitat.

A native bumblebee gathering pollen from purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)—a pollinator favorite in Mid-Atlantic gardens

Grow Habitat, Not Hazards

Looking for a safer, more beautiful yard? Native plants do more than just fill space—they provide food and shelter for pollinators, protect our waterways, and reduce the need for watering, mowing, and chemicals.

Even a small patch of native plants can make a big difference for bees, butterflies, birds, and the Bay.

  • Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)
    A powerhouse for pollinators, with a long bloom time and beautiful silver-green foliage. Grows well in full sun.

  • Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
    A hummingbird favorite that thrives in moist areas and brightens shady corners with vivid red blooms.

  • Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
    Maryland’s state flower! Cheerful yellow blooms support a wide range of native bees.

  • Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
    Also known as bee balm. A member of the mint family with fragrant purple flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

  • Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
    A native ornamental grass that adds four-season interest and hosts many butterfly larvae.

Female ruby-throated hummingbirds feeding on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)—a magnet for pollinators in sunny native plantings

Tip:
Want more options? Use the Chesapeake Bay Native Plant Center’s searchable tool to find the right plants for your yard. You can filter by sun, soil, bloom color, and more.

https://www.nativeplantcenter.net/

Why We’re Rethinking Yard Spraying

It’s easy to think of spraying as a quick fix for bugs, weeds, or ticks—but the truth is more complicated.

Many pesticides used in home landscapes harm more than just pests.

They can linger in the soil and water, travel beyond your yard, and pose real risks to the pollinators, birds, and children who share your outdoor space.

Here in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, what we put on our lawns doesn’t stay put. Runoff can carry chemicals into local streams and wetlands—right into the habitats we’re trying to protect.

What’s at Risk?

  • Pollinators: Many commonly used insecticides, including neonicotinoids, are toxic to bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects—even in small doses.

  • Soil & water health: Systemic chemicals can seep into the ground and make their way to the Bay.

  • Your family and pets: Kids and animals are especially vulnerable to exposure from residue on lawns and surfaces.

  • Long-term effectiveness: Repeated spraying often leads to resistant pest populations, making the cycle worse over time.

There’s a Better Way

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) encourages smarter, more sustainable yard care. It’s not about doing nothing—it’s about doing what works, with less risk.

  • Monitor: Know what’s really causing the issue before reacting.

  • Identify: Not every bug is a bad one—many are helpful pollinators or pest-eaters.

  • Adapt: Improve soil health, plant diversity, and drainage first.

  • Use chemicals only as a last resort—and choose the least toxic option available.

 

“We don’t need to spray to have healthy yards—we just need to plant with purpose.”

 

Want to dig deeper?
Visit the Xerces Society’s Pesticide-Free Habitat Guide:
https://xerces.org/pesticides

Or explore UMD Extension’s Integrated Pest Management tips:
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/integrated-pest-management-ipm

Easy Ways to Join the Movement

You don’t need a perfect yard or a background in botany to protect pollinators. Small changes—like planting a patch of natives or skipping one spray treatment—can have real ripple effects.

Here are a few ways to plug in:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtails feeding on Joe Pye Weed in a native garden

 

Take the Pollinator Pledge
Join a national network through Xerces Society’s Bring Back the Pollinators campaign.
https://www.bringbackthepollinators.org/

 

 

  • Be a Neighborhood Connector
    Let us know if you’re taking steps in your community—we may be able to connect you with local tools or signs.
    → Contact us to share what you’re working on.

 

Learn from Our Partners

We’re not in this alone—and we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. These trusted partners offer region-specific guidance on pollinator gardening, pesticide-free yard care, and Chesapeake Bay conservation.

 

  • UMD Extension Home & Garden Information Center
    Regional plant lists, seasonal tips, and integrated pest management resources.
    https://extension.umd.edu/hgic

 

 

 

 

  • Harford Land Trust – Grow Wild Program
    Encourages native planting in Harford County through the Pollinator Gardens Trail, educational outreach, and local conservation partnerships.
    https://www.harfordlandtrust.org/growwild

 

Stay Connected

This is just the beginning. As more neighbors join in and momentum builds, we’ll share opportunities to connect, learn, and take action—together.

Want to learn more?
We recommend starting with these expert-backed resources—these are the same tools many of us are using in our own yards:

 

 

 

 

 

Want to stay in the loop?
Visit our homepage to sign up for updates, or contact us and we’ll add you.

Looking Beyond Spraying

(Fertilizer-Free Yard Care in the Critical Area)

While this guide focuses on rethinking pesticide use, many of the same benefits apply when you reduce or eliminate synthetic fertilizers—especially here in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area.

Healthier soils, fewer algal blooms, and stronger pollinator plants all start with what we put (or don’t put) on our lawns.

Want to learn more?
Start with Blue Water Baltimore’s lawn care guide:
https://bluewaterbaltimore.org/blog/fertilize-less-fertilize-right/