Planning Your Pollinator Garden

Alyssum Flowers

The best way to learn about pollinators and help them thrive is to have established plantings of flowering plants whether it’s annuals and perennials, Spring and Summer bulbs, shrubs and trees or preferably a combination of each, they all provide nectar and/or pollen and more for many insects and animals. Gardens provide interest for us and habitat, food and shelter for many insects, other arthropods, small birds and other wildlife. Add a water source and you have just created the best “Bed and Breakfast” for pollinators they could ever want.

Depending on the size of your landscape, the garden can be as small as a plant pot or old bathtub or be many yards in circumference. The key to the most successful garden is planning the best design for the location and maintaining it to keep unwanted weeds from encroaching.

Imagine butterflies or bees flying above; their compound eyes are made of many individual facets, like a kaleidoscope. In order for them to “see” a garden or desirable planting, blocks of the same color are more likely to draw them to your yard. For instance, six pink flowering plants growing together is more appealing to them than a line of different colored flowers, even if they are all good nectar sources. Think patches of the same color although they can be different species. Next, choose plants of varying sizes and flower shapes to attract the most diverse number of visitors. Small, native bees often have longer tongues and can obtain nectar from “deeper” flowers such as salvia and nicotiana. Honey bees are general feeders with short tongues and require shallow flowers. They are also more attracted to blues and violets while butterflies are less picky.

‘Bee’ aware of water and sun/shade needs of each plant selected. If the garden will be far away from a hose or spigot, pick varieties that are more drought tolerant. Different textures and colors of leaves will add seasonal interest to your garden that may last well into Winter.

Season long flowering is critical for local pollinators who depend on early Spring, Summer and late Fall pollen and nectar. Stretch your garden to include crocus and Scilla spp. in early Spring, Liatris, coreopsis or rudbeckia for mid-Summer when most plants have stopped flowering, then aster and coneflowers for Fall resources.

Lastly, plant species that you like. Add herbs and ornamental annuals that add seasonal color. Don’t be afraid to replace a plant if it is failing with another favorite. You can always pot or transplant a sick plant to another location that may be more favorable.

Whenever possible, choose plants that serve as hosts for butterfly and moth caterpillars to encourage them to stay in the area. Many milkweed species Asclepias spp. are very ornamental and serve as the only food for monarch caterpillars. Pussy toes, Antennaria neglecta, a fuzzy low growing perennial is the food for American painted lady caterpillar and is a lovely addition to your garden.

Keep invasive weeds out by pulling while they are still small. Avoid using any insecticide, especially on the blooms. Remember that the caterpillars eating the leaves of some plants may be that of a beautiful butterfly or moth that you are trying to attract! Most plants can tolerate one to two defoliations, depending upon the size of the plant. If a borer is suspected, cut the top of the plant off instead of treating with an insecticide. Cut below the point where the plant is wilting. It will resprout.

Lastly, leave the dead stems for the Winter and cut in early Spring. Several native bee species overwinter in plant stems, plus praying mantids may lay an egg case on stems, as well as the fact that that seed heads are a feast for finches.

Research shows that each colony of honey bees requires one to three acres of different flowering plants to receive adequate nutrition. Other bees need more per acre. The latest data estimates that 50 million acres of lawn were maintained in the USA in 2020 using three trillion gallons of water and 59 million pounds of pesticides. If each of us planted more food for the pollinators, we could all help minimize lawn maintenance and help the pollinators obtain the nutrition they desperately need. Please see the links below for information on pollinator plants and planning your garden.

https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Wildlife/Attracting-Butterflies
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-85/ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ENT-47
https://www.pollinator.org/guides
http://www.ccnybees.org/uploads/1/0/5/8/10585924/ohio_state_university_extension_factsheet_-_ohionectarplants.pdf?msclkid=3bd8bddab3b411ecb33067cfe13bfda9
https://www.fws.gov/story/how-build-pollinator-garden
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/perennial-gardening-7-402/
https://extension.psu.edu/planting-pollinator-friendly-gardens