This question came via Facebook , and I unhappily have personal experience with it . You ’re trying to grow native plant and documentation pollinators however you may , and then your neighbor are spray chemicals all over their lawn . It ’s a super thwarting experience , but let ’s break this down and see if there are ways to constructively deal with it .
Question :
My neighbor spray their yard for both mosquitoes and dope . Is there any way to prevent drift from chemical pesticides and herbicides into my yard ?
Answer : This is such a bummer . I did some reading material about whether the sprayer used for mosquitoes affect pollinators . Here ’s whatMichigan State University says :
“ Fogging or spraying for mosquitoes or biting tent-fly around the yard and garden with an insecticide can be very harmful to pollinator . Even if blossoming flora are fend off and program are made after sunset , insecticides applied as a fog or mist can stray onto bloom plants within 100 meters or more reckon on the wind speed and direction . The insecticide heading could contaminate pollen and nectar collected by bee for several days or hebdomad after it is utilise , and the residue on leave can be toxic to cat for weeks or month . Caterpillars of some coinage of butterflies are extremely sensitive to insecticide residuum on folio . ”
I was afraid of that .
Before we get into solutions , rent ’s also match on weed killer , which are slightly less alarming depending on how they ’re applied . Technically , weed killer should not regard your pollinators , but you may lose some of your plants that are close to the dimension phone line — I have . It might not pain to ask exactly what they ’re apply before getting too alarmed .
Unfortunately , there is very little you may do . It sounds like you ’ve already tried politely asking and offer teaching . Here are a few estimation .
Other thing to reckon include a buffer strip of grass or Sir Henry Wood chips along the property line , depend on how big your mess is . That can also aid with any complaint you might get about any of your natives that are a little bit more self-asserting .
Good hazard with this one , because it ’s a ruffianly spot maintaining a honest relationship with your neighbour while also doing your part for pollinators .
Other helpful resources :
Yard & Garden Home
The Master Gardener Volunteer program
Jennifer Rensenbrinkis a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Volunteer for Hennepin County . She somehow has two miniskirt - prairie on her tiny south Minneapolis place .
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