Tips: Creating a Pollinator Paradise
The hum of butterflies, the buzz of bees and the frantic energy of hummingbirds make a garden come alive. Creating a pollinator friendly garden, however, requires landscape planning and strict maintenance to ensure your guest come flying back year after year.
Create an Invite List
Knowing who you want in the garden is the first step in any pollinator garden. For instance, knowing that you want to attract butterflies and hummingbirds but not others makes Monarda an excellent choice, among others. Planning this invite list is critical in narrowing down what makes the most sense.
Native Plantings
While there are many plants that support pollinators, we do advise planting items that are native to your area. Native plants are more likely to support pollinators through their lifecycle, while also reflecting the best diet to support their development.
A Welcoming Environment
A successful pollinator garden is that support pollinators not only through their lifecyle but also the season. Doing so require choosing plants that bloom throughout the season, in addition to plants that support and protect larvae, like grasses. Mass plantings help pollinators munch more efficiently, compared to thinly spread plantings. With the correct aim of purpose, a lot can fall into place.
Ongoing Care
While avoiding pesticides and chemical fertilizers are well known, other care tips are not as clear. Weeding by hands doesn't disrupt the planting area, while keeping seed heads and stalks through fall helps provide food and shelter over winter.
