If you want to attract pollinators, the first thing you’ll need is to add diversity to your garden. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are attracted to a wide range of plants, so it’s important to include a variety of flowers and flowering trees in your yard.
Why Are Pollinators Important?
Pollinators are helpful for the environment because they spread pollen from one plant to another, allowing plants to grow and reproduce. Without pollinators, many species would be unable to survive because there would be no way for them to reproduce.
Pollinators are important to the food supply because they allow fruits and vegetables such as apples, tomatoes, and cucumbers to grow on trees or vines.
Below are some tips for creating a pollinator friendly garden:
Add Native Plants to Your Garden
Native plants have a number of advantages over non-native plants. Native species are more likely to be adapted to the local climate, soil conditions, and pests and diseases that occur in your area.
This means they require less water, fertilizer and other inputs to thrive. It also means that native species can help reduce stormwater runoff by protecting soil from erosion.
The best way for gardeners to start attracting pollinators is by planting native flowers in their yard or garden, because local pollinators are already attracted to these species of plants.
If possible, avoid using pesticides on your plants because pesticides can kill beneficial insects along with pests. Instead, opt for natural methods of pest prevention so that pollinators can freely enjoy your garden.
Intermingle Your Flowers
The best way to create a garden that will attract pollinators is to plant flowers of different colors and heights, as well as plants of different shapes and blooming times. It’s important to include flowers that bloom throughout different seasons.
Plant flowers in groups instead of isolating them by type. This will draw more attention from pollinators who tend to visit many plants at once rather than just one at a time.
Plant a Variety of Trees and Shrubs
If you want to attract bees and other pollinators, it’s best to plant a variety of flowering trees and shrubs. While most pollinators will primarily be active throughout the spring and summer, it is possible to attract pollinators year-round in certain climates by planting trees and shrubs that bloom at varying times of the year.
A few excellent options include:
Trees that flower in different seasons: Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), Crabapple (Malus spp.), Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
Trees that flower in different colors: Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia), Paperback Maple (Acer griseum)
Trees that flower in different shapes: Hawthorne / Thornless Blackthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Trees that flower in different sizes: River Birch / Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Make Your Garden Colorful
Colorful flowers are more likely to be pollinated. Studies show that flowers in different colors attract different types of pollinators, so it’s best to have a variety of colors in your garden.
Bright yellow and reds are good for bees and butterflies, while white or purple flowers will attract moths and hummingbirds.
Provide Water, Shelter, and Food for Pollinators
If you wish to bring more birds to your garden as pollinators, add a birdhouse to attract more birds to the area. A water fountain can also attract birds searching for a place to drink or bathe.
Sugar water can also be placed outside in a hummingbird feeder to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
Provide sources of food that are both high in nectar and pollen content, such as roses, dandelions, and goldenrod.
How to Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden: Final Thoughts
We hope these tips have inspired you to make your garden more pollinator friendly. By adding attractive plants and colors to your garden along with food sources, it will become easier for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to visit your garden.
By bringing more pollinators to your garden, you’ll likely find yourself with a very successful garden that produces an abundance of fresh produce. As you harvest produce from your garden, download the Lil’ Broc app to track and monitor the freshness of your produce.