Pollinators play an important role in our backyard ecosystem. Nearly all the plants on earth require help with pollination in order to reproduce. Here are some tips for attracting moreÂ
pollinators to our yard!Â
Native Plants
Add plants to your space that provide a lot of pollen and nectar for the insects and small animals that will help pollinate. Include plants that are native to your area. Native plants not only help support native pollinators, but they will be easier to care for since they are best suited for your climate.
Variety With Continuous BloomsÂ
Include a variety of plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. Early blooming flowers provide an important food source for pollinators and other beneficial insects as they emerge in spring, while summer and fall-blooming plants offer the nectar and pollen they need to stay healthy and prepare for winter.
Avoid Pesticides
Limit your use of pesticides or avoid it altogether. If you do use some pesticide, spray it when the pollinators are not active. You don’t want to harm or kill the pollinators you are trying to draw into your garden.
Limit Fall Clean Up
In the Fall, leave some leaf litter in your flowerbeds and garden areas and wait to cut back perennials until the spring. Native bees and other pollinators need to overwinter in the ground and hollow stems.
Wait To Clean Up in the Spring
Wait until temperatures start to warm up consistently before doing your spring clean-up. You don’t want to disturb the over-wintering pollinators before they are ready.
Provide A Water Source
Flying around and pollinating all day is hard work! Adding a water source for the birds, bees, and other insects will help them do their job. It can be as simple as a shallow dish tucked in your garden or a bird bath.
When you create a welcoming habitat for pollinators, they are not the only ones that benefit. You improve your garden’s productivity with more flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
For a more in-depth discussion on how to attract pollinators and which plants to add, visit my blog.
HAPPY GARDENING!
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