Pollinators

Supporting bees and other pollinators in your yard

You don't have to set up a hive and become an amateur beekeeper to support pollinators at your home. Simply maintaining a healthy garden and providing space for pollinator habitats can be very beneficial.

Pollinators are essential for the growth of most plants, since the transfer of pollen between different flowers is usually required to produce fertile seeds. The National Wildlife Federation says 85 percent of flowering plants need a pollinator in order to produce fruit or seed. While bees are the most well-known pollinators, the process can also be carried out by several other creatures as well; these include butterflies, moths, predatory wasps, ladybugs, and hummingbirds.

Unfortunately, these pollinators aren't always easy to find around your home. The U.S. Forest Service says dwindling habitats and pesticide poisoning are key reasons for the decline in pollinator populations.

One of the best ways to support pollinators is to maintain native plants in the garden. Not only are these plants easier to grow, since they naturally grow in the climate and conditions of your neighborhood, but pollinators have adapted to them. By contrast, non-native plants may not provide enough nectar or pollen to support pollinators, or they may even repel them.

Consider a mix of plants to provide shapes and colors that appeal to different pollinators. Hummingbirds are often attracted to plants with tubular flowers, while butterflies prefer platform-like flowers where they can perch. Bees typically enjoy sweet smelling flowers with purple, yellow, or blue colors. However, plants like serviceberry or chokeberry will benefit other types of bees, such as mason bees and bumblebees.

Choose plants that flowers at different times of the year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says doing so will provide a constant source of nectar and pollen. Arranging plants in clumps rather than individually can also be beneficial.

You might want to set aside part of your garden as a refuge for pollinators. Aislin Suparak Gibson, writing for the home design site Houzz, says you can give yourself a break from mowing and dedicate part of your lawn to a meadow garden with wildflowers. Cover crops can be planted in unused parts of the lawn to appeal to bees and other pollinators.

Providing habitats in your yard will give pollinators an incentive to stay close by. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says brush piles and even bare spots of undisturbed soil can be attractive to bees. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says butterflies often lay their eggs on milkweed plants, while hummingbirds create nests in trees and shrubs.

You can buy a purpose-built habitat for pollinators to set up in your yard, such as a native bee house. Gibson says these usually include wooden tunnels to shelter bees and hold food or nesting material for other pollinators. These shelters add an interesting element to your garden, and can sometimes have a second use such as providing a trellis for growing plants.

Pesticides used on plants can kill or weaken pollinators. You should strive to avoid using pesticides if possible, or to use them judiciously if they are necessary.

The National Wildlife Federation recommends using organic or natural pest remedies, such as garlic or soap. Avoid using pesticides on flowering plants or during windy conditions, which can distribute the pesticide farther than intended. It is also best to avoid broad spectrum pesticides, especially those with neonicotinoids.

When using pesticide, choose one with a low toxicity level and the shortest residual period. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension says pesticides with a longer residual effect will linger on the plant and have a harmful effect on pollinators. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says liquid sprays are preferable to dusts, since they can be applied to specific plants. Applications should be made in the late afternoon or evening, when pollinators are less active.