Well-meaning garden trends aren’t always harmless. See how, despite our best intentions, hand-rearing monarchs, bug hotels, and guerrilla seed sowing can cause bigger issues.
To avoid unnecessary problems also see 10 Smart Tips Gardeners Wish They’d Known Sooner.
Eco-Friendly or Eco-Fail?
These garden trends began with very good intentions—to benefit the ecosystem—but may not have the intended effect.
We all have our own history of garden bloopers, but, in gardening as in life, once we know better, we can do better.
Have a look at these popular garden trends and why they might not be as sustainable as we hoped.
1Rearing Monarch Butterflies
Captive rearing (sometimes called hand-rearing) involves taking monarch eggs or larvae and keeping them in protected conditions until adult butterflies emerge. When ready, the adults are released back into the wild.
Science teachers have done this for years so students can witness the lifecycle of the monarch first-hand. This has a quick refresher on monarchs and metamorphosis,
In recent years, gardeners and other concerned citizens raise monarchs to help boost declining numbers.
With monarch populations facing so many threats, it seems logical to do what we can to increase their numbers.
But, unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Researchers warn that captive rearing may cause more harm than good. In short, it may interfere with natural checks and balances, potentially resulting in weaker monarch populations.
Studies show butterflies raised in captivity can have weaker flight abilities and lower survival rates.
Captive rearing also puts them at higher risk of disease.
Some researchers are ok with captive rearing in small numbers (raising a few “cats” each year) but not in larger quantities. Others discourage it entirely.
From a legal perspective, captive rearing may already be prohibited or restricted where you are as it is in Canada, Mexico, and California.
I’ve provided links in the resources section if you would like to read about this topic in greater detail.
What Can We Do for Monarchs Instead?
The answer is the same for all species at risk: provide and protect what they need and stop what harms them.
For monarchs:
- Protect their natural habitat.
- Grow native milkweed (their host larval plant).
- Provide an abundance of nectar flowers.
- Avoid pesticides.
- Support conservation groups.
- Combine efforts with a local monarch watch group.
- Vote for and support lawmakers who prioritize environmental protections.
Resources
2Guerilla Seed Sowing
Guerilla gardening is the term used when someone plants or sows on public or neglected land without permission. It’s often done with the belief that it improves the landscape and helps the environment (and brings cheer!) although the long-term impact may be negative.
One approach is to create “seed bombs”—little balls of soil filled with wildflower seeds— to toss out of car windows, place next to hiking trails, or sow in public parks.
Despite the good intentions, this type of planting can backfire within the ecosystem, causing challenges for conservationists.
We’re at the point now where so much land is riddled with invasive species that we have a near impossible task ahead of us to restore and protect land for future generations.
Eliminating invasive species is a difficult, labor-intensive task and grossly underfunded. That’s why conservation rules are so strict: it’s an uphill battle as it is.
I’ve certainly seen examples of guerilla garden success stories, where the right plants were added to the right place. Or, efforts fall flat but (thankfully) are harmless. But that’s the best case scenerio.
Tossing seeds willy-nilly without ecological consideration is not only illegal but anthithetic to the cause.
But it’s wildflowers!
Some people hear the word “wildflowers” and assume it means native flowers that benefit the environment.
But, if you read seed packets, you’ll see the term is not regulated. Wildflower mixes may contain any combination of invasive, introduced, native or hybrids species from who knows where. The seeds could suit your region or (more likely) not. And even if they do—it doesn’t mean they’re a beneficial planting choice for that exact spot. It’s not just art but science too.
Guerilla sowing is wildcard planting that may bring pretty flowers in the short-term but could cause greater issues in the future.
When it succeeds: phew. But what if it doesn’t?
What Can We Do Instead?
- Support local habitat restoration efforts under the guidance of conservation groups.
- Get involved with green space improvement efforts.
- Make eco-beneficial choices in your own garden.
- Take only pictures and leave no trace in natural spaces.
Resources
3Bug Hotels
Bug hotels (insect hotels, bug house, bee house) have gained popularity among gardeners and nature enthusiasts wanting to support beneficial insects, especially bees and other pollinators that nest above-ground in hollow stems.
These structures provide nesting sites and shelter, aiming to compensate for habitat loss.
Used in a educational setting, bug hotels give real life demonstrations of insect life cycles. As a curious human, I’ve certainly created several in my own garden (including this bee house) using left-over building supplies.
But researchers warn us that there are unintended, negative consequences to bug hotels.
- Improperly designed or poorly maintained structures can become breeding grounds for pests, parasites, and diseases, potentially harming the very insects they aim to support.
- Without regular cleaning, pathogens can accumulate, increasing the risk of disease transmission among inhabitants. Some studies also suggest that bug hotels may attract invasive species, which could outcompete native insects and disrupt local ecosystems.
For these reasons, some experts don’t like bug hotels at all.
Others recommend careful design, placement, and maintenance of bug hotels to ensure they provide genuine ecological benefits without introducing new problems. It’s much like nesting boxes: if you can’t keep up with routine cleaning and maintenance, don’t provide them.
Resources
Cheers to all who do what they can to benefit our pollinators (and all life in the garden).
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
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