Gardening With Pollinators in Mind (2024)

I’ll Meet You in the Garden with Shellie Wise, Warren County Master Gardener

Whileyou may not be able to dedicate an entire garden plot to a pollinator garden,there are small practices you can incorporate into any sized garden to support ourlocal pollinators. Over 75% of ouragricultural crops depend on pollinators. We need to do what we can to support them.

Pollinatorsinclude more than just butterflies and honeybees. An assortment of wild bees, beetles, moths,bats, wasps, birds, flies, and other insects all play an important role in pollinatingplants. Their needs are as basic as ours– food for themselves and their young, water, safe shelter, and a place toreproduce and raise the next generation.

Adiverse planting of native pollen and nectar-producing plants grouped togetheris a good food source for pollinators. Native plants co-evolved with native insects, birds, and wildlife. It’s important to maintain thatecosystem. Use native plants in yourgarden. Clusters of plants are easierfor the pollinators to spot and feed on than single individual plantings. Group flowering plants together and includedifferent species if possible. It’simportant to provide food throughout the entire growing season with plants thatbloom from spring to fall. Avoid hybrid double-floweredplants that make it difficult for the insects to reach the pollen. Some hybrid plants have been bred to notproduce pollen rendering them useless to pollinators. Instead, choose flowers that have one ring ofpetals around a central disc. Plantflowers with a variety of shapes, like tubular, bowl-shaped & flat-topped,to appeal to a large variety of pollinators. Alyssum, asters, borage, calendula, coneflowers, foxglove, hyssop, lobelia,marigold, milkweed, monarda (bee balm), nasturtium, scabiosa, sedums, sunflowers,yarrow, and zinnia are just a few pollinator favorites. Allow some of your herbs to flower later inthe season. Pollinators are attracted tothe flowers of basil, cilantro, mint, oregano, and thyme. Add night-blooming plants like 4 o’clock,datura, moonflower, evening primrose, and nicotiana to benefit the eveningpollinators like moths and bats. Butterfly and moth larvae require non-flowering plant parts like leavesof carrots, dill, parsley, and milkweed. In addition to many of the plants listed above, hummingbirds enjoyhyacinth bean flowers, petunias, and columbines.

Wateris provided in a variety of ways, like water drops on plants, birdbaths, and shallowdishes of stones. Keep the dish ofstones filled with water, especially during the heat of summer.

Havingnatural material nearby, like small stacks of stones or large rocks, a pile ofbranches, dead logs, and small patches of bare ground provides sites for resting,protection, and nesting. Remove andtrash weeds, diseased plants, and pest-infested material from your garden, butallow some leaf litter and flower seed heads to remain. In addition to food from the seeds, thehollow stems and leaves provide great hibernating sites throughout winter.

Keepyourself and your local pollinators safe by reducing or eliminating your use ofherbicides, pesticides, and chemicals. Instead, practice good gardening techniques. Use native plants, clean & removepest-infested plants, and use pest management strategies. Support beneficial insects and predators,like ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, toads, and birds, to help controlpests naturally. Use barriers and trapsto thwart pests. Paper collars and gardenfabric are examples of barriers that prevent specific pest damage. Lure plants away from your garden by usingtrap plants – those preferred by pests – and plant them outside the gardenplot. When natural methods of pestcontrol are not enough, opt for less toxic pesticide options, like Bt or diatomaceousearth. When you use pesticides to killthe pests, you also kill beneficial insects, upsetting the balance in yourgarden. Use as a last resort. Instead of herbicides, remove weeds whilethey’re young and easier to manage. Usemulches, like newspapers, straw, cardboard, or wood chips, to prevent weedsfrom sprouting. Fertilize naturally withcompost and use good soil management instead of using synthetic fertilizers.

Regardlessof the size of your garden, try some of the practices described above toattract and support pollinators in your area. You may not be able to provide everything listed, but even one positivechange makes a difference. Every littleeffort contributes to a lasting positive impact for our pollinators and us.

For more information on garden practices that support pollinators, visit the linksbelow.

https://www.pollinator.org/guides

Last updated September 27, 2023