Gardeners told 'stop using bug spray' in garden this summer

Warm weather means you'll be spending time in your garden and an expert gardener has shared one tip for your outdoor space. He says there's one thing you need to be wary of in your garden at this time of year.

Ben Hamilton Anderson is a rose expert and plant reviewer who has amassed a huge following on social media for his gardening advice. He told Express.co.uk there's one item you might be using in your garden that you shouldn't be.

Ben has 30 years of experience as a gardener and shares his advice online to a huge audience. He holds a diploma in horticulture and shares his gardening tips to an impressive combined following of 62,800 followers on Instagram and TikTok under the username of @the_gardenerben.

He said: "The use of pesticides and herbicides without any regard for the implication of the ecosystem is what people should be wary of at this time of year."

Ben adds that he understands that chemicals need to be used as a commercial gardener and even says he sometimes has to use chemicals himself.

However, he says it's crucial to use the chemicals in a controlled and responsible way.

Ben says: "People go out to their gardens very quickly and they see a problem, for instance at the moment it's very much focused on aphids, green fly, black fly, they feel their garden is under attack.

"They feel that these things are going to detract from the beauty of their outdoor spaces and for me, I cast myself as a custodian of my outdoor space, we're lucky enough to have a third of an acre.

"It's not my garden, the garden is actually for the wildlife I share it with and I plant it as such."

Ben says many gardeners may not be aware that in getting rid of the aphids in your garden, you may end up poisoning ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies which eat the aphids.

In turn, this could then cause issues for birds which many gardeners spend the whole winter feeding.

Just Bee Honey says: "Not only can they kill 'pests' and other wildlife, they could be a danger to you, your children and your pets if you aren't extremely careful.

"Pesticides will kill many types of insects, not just the ones you want off your tomatoes. They can also leave a harmful residue on the plant that will stick around for a long time, just waiting for an unsuspecting pollinator visiting the flowers to collect nectar."

By ensuring you are educated on the products you are using in your garden, you can make sure you're not harming any wildlife.