There are a number of ways that you can help pollinators in your garden. These actions will benefit your local community and the ecosystem as a whole.
One of the first steps is to plant a variety of flowers. Plants like milk weed, coneflowers, Monarda, solidago, beardtongue, yarrow, coreopsis and witch hazel will attract a wide range of pollinators.
1. Plant a Variety of Flowers
Planting a variety of flowers is essential for supporting pollinators. Flowers provide the food, shelter and water that bees need to survive.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or a beginner, planting a variety of different types of flowers will help attract pollinators to your yard. Many plants thrive in different types of soil and need varying amounts of sunlight, so it’s important to choose flowers that will grow best in the area you are working in.
Flowering flowers also add color and visual intrigue to your landscape. Splashing them among shrubbery and trees can make outdoor spaces more attractive and appealing, and throughout the blooming season, gardeners can pick blooms that are suitable for cutting and bringing indoors or giving as gifts.
2. Create a Water Source
A water source is a vital part of a pollinator garden. Bees, birds, and other insects require a shallow, accessible water source in order to drink and breed.
Whether you have a rain barrel, birdbath, or other shallow dish of water, it is important to change it often and keep it full. In addition, it is also important to ensure that the source of water is safe for pollinators.
The most effective way to create a pollinator-friendly environment is to avoid the use of pesticides. Instead, use companion planting and handpicking to help protect pollinators from harmful pests.
3. Create a Shelter
Attracting pollinators is one of the easiest ways to increase your garden’s diversity and support a healthy ecosystem. Bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects are vital to plant populations because they pollinate flowers that produce fruits and seeds.
Creating a shelter for pollinators is an important part of supporting these species. Shelter can come in the form of leaves, mud, sand, plant resins, and other organic materials that may be found on the ground or in dead plants.
It is also critical to create a space for nesting sites. Some species of bees and butterflies require specific types of nesting material, such as bare ground or hollow stems.
Keeping a wide variety of flowering plant species with overlapping bloom periods, in addition to nectar-providing plants, will ensure that your garden continues to provide flowers to pollinators all year round. Additionally, consider planting milkweed, which attracts monarch butterflies and makes them distasteful to predators.
4. Provide Food
One of the most important things you can do for pollinators is to provide food. This means planting flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.
Plant a wide variety of flowering plants, including perennials and annuals, that bloom throughout the growing season. A garden that blooms year-round is more attractive to insects and enables them to feed more readily in all weather.
Providing a source of water for thirsty pollinators is also important. A shallow birdbath, fountain or pond filled with gravel can help them stay hydrated.
Another good way to provide food is by letting some dead leaves and plant material hang out in the ground. This provides shelter and food for many species of bees, butterflies and birds.
Farms that create green spaces, such as natural habitat areas, have been shown to increase their overall yield. This includes fruit, vegetables and milk crops.