Bees and butterflies are critical to healthy and diverse ecosystems. Their populations are in decline, and we’re actively supporting and protecting pollinators and their habitats through our Pollinator Promise.

Since 2016, we have reformulated our outdoor control products to remove ingredients potentially harmful to pollinators. An example is our outdoor Ortho-branded formulations, which do not contain neonicotinoid-based insecticides. Miracle-Gro helps gardeners plant and grow pollinator gardens and establish pollinator-friendly spaces in their backyards.

Our Bee Responsible program advances pollinator education on multiple fronts, including in retail stores. We engage experts in the field, scientists, third-party experts, universities, research centers and nonprofit organizations to determine the best ways to protect pollinators. We then share this knowledge with consumers, providing this type of guidance on product labels and in Bee Responsible communications:

• Plant pollinator-attractive plants
• Always use products as directed
• Spray on foliage to avoid blooms
• Spray when air is calm to avoid drift
• Apply at dusk and dawn when bees are less active
• Do NOT spray when bees are visiting the treated area

We collaborate with leading national pollinator nongovernmental organizations and other groups to advocate for and support pollinators. Some examples:

• Parks for Pollinators program with the National Park and Recreation Association to expand pollinator habitats in local parks and educate people on how to protect pollinators.
• Pollinator Stewardship Council support to defend pollinators in conjunction with our Bee Responsible program.
• Central Ohio Bee Association support for construction of an apiary and planting of a pollinator meadow at our Marysville, Ohio, headquarters