What practice is advised regarding blooming plants when treating around bees?

• A. Spray blooming plants to improve pest control
• B. Avoid spraying blooming plants
• C. Increase watering during bloom
• D. Use more dilute solutions on bloom

Answer: (B)

Bees are active on blooming plants, so the safest approach when treating near bees is to avoid spraying the blooms altogether. Pesticide residues in nectar and pollen can poison foraging bees and even small exposures can disrupt colony health. Scheduling treatments for when plants aren’t in bloom, or using non-flowering plants for control, greatly reduces the risk to pollinators. If treatment near blossoms is unavoidable, follow label directions for bee safety, choose products with the lowest risk to bees, apply only when bees aren’t foraging, and minimize drift or exposure. Spraying blooming plants or using more dilute or watered-down applications doesn’t adequately protect bees and still risks contamination.