Five tips for building biodiversity in your yard
Add more flowering plants and a water feature to help attract pollinators, wildlife
“What is it?” was the question I got a few times in recent weeks. It was asked upon the opening of gifts I made in my woodworking shop for some of the special people on my list this past Christmas. My creations were insect hotels. They were received with grace — and more questions: “What does an insect hotel do? What kind of insects will it attract? Are they all good for my garden?” The queries led me to a stark realization: We have a lot of work to do and this discussion has a long way to go. It started with worry about the decline of honey bees and has grown to a general concern, shared by naturalists everywhere, about the health of our native population of pollinators.
Truth is, there are more than 700 species of native bees (honey bees are not native) that serve as primary pollinators out there in the natural environment, many of which you can attract to your yard with an insect hotel. In addition, there are thousands of other invertebrates that either pollinate more than 30 per cent of the plants we rely on for food, or are essential members of the web of insects that make up the whole show. It is complicated.
Luckily, I am here to boil this one down for you. Take a mid-winter moment to digest the following five points to help see the bigger picture. Understand the meaning of ‘biodiversity’
The word comes from ‘biological diversity.’ WWF defines it as, “The term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact.” Biodiversity in your yard is represented by the range of naturally occurring plant, animal and insect life that exists in it. There is much that you can do to increase biodiversity, or the ‘range’ of life in your yard. Plants — pack them in
However small your yard or balcony, do not underestimate the impact you can have on the beneficial insect life in your neighbourhood by planting flowering plants. The longer each plant produces a flower and the more of them, the better. If you have a minimum of six hours of sunshine in your garden, you are in luck. The varieties of plants available to you are nearly limitless. If you are dealing with shade, you also have opportunities to plant flowering plants galore, but you will need to be more thoughtful about your plan. In either case, place your plants densely to attract the maximum number of pollinators. Extend the beginning and the end
Here in Toronto, we live in zone 6. Our average frost-free date is around May 24. Don’t let that stop you from pushing the envelope on this one. Crocuses are terrific pollinator magnets and they bloom in March. Same for hellebores, snowdrops, early iris and dandelions. Yes, you read right. If you are blessed with dandelions and view them as weeds, but want to add biodiversity to your yard, you no doubt have some conflicted feelings. Answer: let them bloom and then cut them down or dig them out. While bloom- ing, they are visited by many beneficial insects. In the autumn, there are many flowering plants that tolerate the early frosts while blooming — rudbeckia, Joe Pye weed, asters, mums, and Japanese anemones, to name a few. Go native — or not
It is not important to a bug that a plant is native, as long as it produces a blossom that attracts it in the first place, a recent study in England suggested. According to the results of ‘The Plants for Bugs Pollinator’ research, it is the diversity of plant material that attracts the maximum range of bug species, not whether they are native.
To quote the study, “The value of a site can be maximized for pollina- tors by choosing plants from different regions of the world.” Add water and don’t stir
The single most impactful feature you can add to your garden or balcony to attract pollinators is a stillwater feature. A pond in the yard or a half-barrel on the balcony works just fine. When you add a water feature, I can guarantee you will discover wildlife in your yard you have never seen before. As dragonflies, salamanders, frogs, toads, water beetles, amphibians, mammals and bugs discover your new drinking hole, they will grow, thrive and breed. There is no downside.
We are only beginning this discussion. I hope you will stay tuned to my column for more as we ex- plore the importance of creating biodiversity in our yards and gardens. As I look into the crystal ball, I see the interest in attracting pollinators and creating biodiversity in Canadian gardens as growing steadily. Within a generation, the average Canadian garden will have little to do with the plant collections and formal, clipped and manicured gardens made popular after the Second World War. Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster and garden editor of Reno & Decor magazine. Get his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com. Watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. Email him at groundskeeper@markcullen.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarkCullen4 and Facebook.