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How to
Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Pollination occurs when insects, birds, animals or even the wind carry pollen from the male side of the flower to the female side of the flower, thereby producing a plant. The process of pollination is important for plants and supports all human and animal life. In fact, living pollinators are responsible for 75% of our food.

Unfortunately, habitat destruction harms and destroys pollinators. But we can help by planting pollinators garden. This guide will explain how to start and maintain a pollinator garden to add value and beauty to your garden.

Be Cautious
About Pesticides and Herbicides

You’ll want
to be careful when you’re in the midst of plant selection, as many plants are
pretreated with neonicotinoids, a pesticide that can kill not only pests, but
butterflies, bees, and other helpful insects, These can even be
applied to seeds, so you’ll want to double check your seeds before you plant to
ensure your garden is safe for pollinators. If the plants you’re interested in
aren’t marked, ask before you buy.

When you’re
treating a pest issue, be conservative. Use treatments with a narrow
scope—ideally affecting only the pest species. And avoid
using herbicides that kill weeds, as they often kill plants that are valuable
to pollinators.

Rethink Your
Lawn

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That expanse
of emerald green lawn doesn’t do much for your pollinator pals. Lawns
offer virtually no habitat value, and their maintenance contributes to air and
water pollution. It’s okay to hang on to a little
lawn where there’s a functional need for it, but replacing your lawn with a
native-rich planting design will offer far more value to your local
ecosystem. Consider creative alternatives to your lawn to bring a richer
variety of plant life for pollinators.

Try to go
longer between mowings to allow growth that can help support
wildlife—especially in early spring—and don’t be so quick to remove weeds. Dandelions can be an important early-season nectar source for bees, as
they often begin blooming before other flowers are available.

Focus on
Native Plants

Using native
plants for your landscape provides the exact types of plants and flowers that
local wildlife eats and nests in—so you’ll give them everything they need to
thrive. The majority of birds and insects require native species to get
the resources they need to survive. Sagebrush, goldenrod,
and sunflowers as key habitat plants, but you can use the National Wildlife
Foundation’s Native Plant Finder to find plants that belong in your zip code,
or the Xerces Society’s detailed regional guides to find pollinator-friendly
plants, including information on bloom time, flower color, and water needs.

Don’t worry
about ripping out non-native plants you already have—they can still be helpful. You don’t have to use native plants exclusively, but the more you use,
the more you’ll support your ecosystem. If you’re choosing
non-native plants, look for ones from a similar climate, so they’ll thrive well
without needing extraordinary help like lots of water.

Choose a
Variety of Plants

You’ll need
more than flowers to help pollinators thrive. “t’s important to provide
food and shelter for their youngsters as well. Plants with
leaves and soft plant tissues can be food and shelter for caterpillars, and
some bees will spend the winter in twigs.

Ground cover
plants, especially if planted beneath trees, provide a perfect home for
caterpillars. And the trees themselves are essential. Trees offer tons of
benefits to local ecosystems, particularly keystone species like oaks, willows,
and species from the Prunus genus like native plums and cherries. They provide food, nesting sites, and resting spots for migrating
species.

Also, try to
choose plants that bloom at different times of the year, not only to keep your
landscape looking gorgeous, but provide food for pollinators all season long.

Research
What Your Target Audience Wants

If you’re
hoping to provide a bee-friendly feast or see more butterflies in your garden,
you can choose plants that can specifically target your preferred visitors. Plants like Russian sage and lavender appeal to generalist pollinators,
but the majority of birds and insects require native species to get the
resources they need to survive.

Look for
large, flat-topped flowers or flower clusters that’ll provide an ideal landing
zone for pollinators, and consider colors and flowers that are particularly
attractive to them.

For
Butterflies

Colors: Red,
yellow, orange, pink, and purple

Flowers and
plants: Zinnia, arrow, lantana, bee balm, dill, fennel, and milkweed

For bees

Colors: purple, yellow and orange

Flowers and Plants: Lavender, Echinacea, Asters, Borage, Foxglove, Black-eyed Susan, and Lupine.

For hummingbirds

Colors: Red, orange, pink and yellow

Flowers and plants; Commonly called petunias, columbine, lantana, fuchsia, salvia, petunia.

Add the water part

Providing a water feature for wildlife will make your yard a haven for pollinators. Water is more important for their survival than food. Although a birdbath is good, a better option is a shallow, underground water that is low and circulates the water, to prevent stagnation (and create a habitat for the young bird). Farms and small ponds are inexpensive and easy to build, and can be very beneficial for wildlife.

Leave the dead leaves

Be very careful in removing any dead leaves or fallen branches from your garden in autumn or spring, as many pollinators find refuge there, including bee. When cutting back perennials, try to leave at least 12 inches of the plant to allow pollinators to rest.

If you’re determined to have a fully landscaped garden, find a place to hide small clumps of plants and leaves to act as shelter for pollinators.

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