You may be aware of the health benefits (physical and mental) that gardening can bring to you as an individual, but at least one type of gardening can benefit all living things in general: pollinator gardening. When you build a pollinator park, you not only create a beautiful green space that attracts everything from hummingbirds to monarch butterflies, you also make a big contribution to fighting the climate crisis. But what is a pollen garden and how do you start one?
“A pollinator garden is a life-sustaining habitat for the insect kingdom that needs food, shelter, breeding and nutrition. Plants in a pollinator's environment provide nectar and nectar for bees, butterflies, birds, wasps and other insects, which then pollinate other plants as well as other animals, and these pollinators feed on their own animals. The larvae are fed.”
"In a pollinator garden, flowers are chosen for their ability to produce nectar, not their display," said Shaber Ali, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation's Gardens for Wildlife program. "Plants are chosen for their stable characteristics in four seasons, food, water, places to raise their young, or habitat for pollinators." As Kelly Bills, executive director of the non-profit Pollinators Partnership, explains, the idea is essentially "to mimic how a local ecosystem is built." This makes them seem wilder than the carefully landscaped gardens and green spaces that are often associated with gardens.
Planting a pollinator garden isn't just a fun outdoor activity; It's an incredibly sustainable way to help the environment and all living things. Between 75% and 95% of the flowering plants on our planet require pollinators, and pollinators are responsible for about a third of our food. Put simply, Allen says, “Without pollinators, we wouldn't have plants. Without plants we would not exist as a species.”
And because of the climate crisis, this is a real risk. Extreme heat, drought and habitat loss have damaged bee, butterfly and other pollinator populations. But all hope is not lost and people can make a difference by creating their own pollinator gardens. “By making more flower resources available to pollinators, we can prevent some of these causes of pollination decline,” says Bills. "This will have a positive impact on the entire food chain and make all plant and animal species more resilient to habitat loss, disease and climate change."
Still don't like the idea of attracting bees and insects into your home? Perhaps it's time to change the mindset beyond understanding the importance of these creatures to the larger ecosystem. "They're trying to survive, they're trying to eat, they're trying to find shelter," says Allen. "To be honest, they have no interest in us. We're second.” In fact, she adds, plants can help keep pollinators out of your home — without the use of pesticides — because they're only attracted to the food source you've planted outside.
You don't need any special training to start your own pollinator garden. Even beginners can do this successfully. "We tell novice gardeners, 'If you plant them, they'll come,' and you'll be happy to see all kinds of pollinators visiting your garden," says Bills, who then lists the basic requirements. "A pollinator garden is ideal for integrated pest management, contains a variety of native or non-invasive plants that bloom year-round, and has a reliable source of water." If you start with seeds instead of plants, prepare to plant in spring or fall. The best window depends on where you live. So it's best to look for tools that are specific to your area (or contact your local garden center).
You don't even need a real garden to be successful. "The best thing about pollination is that it doesn't take up a lot of space," says Bills. “Pollinator gardens can be planted on a balcony, windowsill, porch, or patio. We can all provide pollinators wherever we are. If you're new to gardening, it might even be a good idea to start with a small area in your yard or a pollination-friendly local or two. It also gives you the ability to watch and learn more about pollinator activity as you add new plants to the mix, Allen says.
If you want to start with more plants, make sure they have room to grow. One of the biggest mistakes Allen sees is overwatering pollinators, particularly perennials that take longer to grow and flower than annuals and biennials. "Some things like lilacs or peonies need a few seasons to bloom properly," she says.
Before you get your seeds and start planting, it's a good idea to determine the sun conditions at your garden's location. Different plants require different amounts of sunlight, and too much or too little can affect their growth and longevity. If you have limited space, it's important to know how much sun those areas get so you can choose plants that will blend in with their surroundings. If possible, Ali recommends planting your garden in a sunny spot with wind (natural, e.g. trees or artificial).
However, don't dwell on it too much. “Most pollinators are extremely adaptable and you don't have to do much. They're literally wild," says Allen. "Think of weeds. Think of the amazing dandelions. It is an important food source for everyone, including humans. Remember how hard it is to get rid of him; it grows everywhere. That is the resilience of these plants. They survive, they adapt to the environment. It is very different from native plants and very easy to grow.”
When you consider how many plants in the world need pollination, it's no wonder the list of plants you can incorporate into your garden is extremely long. However, not every pollination-friendly plant will be successful in all areas. "The most important requirement for a pollinator garden is that there are many native or non-invasive flowering plants that bloom year-round," says Bills. "It's a good idea to include a mix of annuals, perennials, and non-flowering plants like shrubs and bushes that can provide shelter and food for pollinators."
While it's okay to include some non-native plants in the mix (note that, as Ali points out, these often need water and maintenance), you should avoid invasive species entirely. "They evolved or evolved into forms that don't exist in other parts of the world," says Ali. “Sometimes they escape into the wild, become invasive and destroy natural habitats. Not only are they destroying and crowding out native plants, but they also fail to support native wildlife.”
Popular and reliable pollinator-friendly plants include firs and grasses (“most of the plants we grow for food attract pollinators,” says Allen). However, you can use tools like the National Wildlife Fund's Native Plant Finder and Pollinator Partnership to help determine the best options for where you live. It is advisable to ask.
In fact, you can get some pollinated seeds for free. Allen recommends visiting master gardeners in your area, as gardeners often share their perennials and provide seeds, and local libraries often have member seed banks.
Euphorbia is one of the most common pollination friendly plants, harboring caterpillars and attracting monarch butterflies. "There are different types of milk that you can smell from 100 meters away - it's a wonderful scent," says Allen. "It's a pleasant olfactory experience for humans, but that [scent] attracts insects." This species, common spurge, is native to the eastern two-thirds of the United States and is suitable for planting in all USDA climate zones.
Even if your garden isn't flooded with sunlight during the day, you can still attract pollen. This collection includes 14 different wildflowers such as California poppies and purple echinacea. Added bonus: Stover's Seed donates a portion of sales of this mix (or any other local pollen mix) to the Pollinator Partnership.
If you have young children, you can involve them and pollinate the veggies with this cute and easy-to-use kit. Wildflower Seed Pop breeds a variety of pollinators suitable for all USDA plant climates, such as Wild Bergamot (Ali is home to 12 butterfly species and 3 pollination-specific bees) and Chinese Aster.
As well as being beautiful to look at, the sunflower is attractive to pollinators of all kinds. Ali offers a unique "bull's eye" sunflower that is available in many states across the US and supports birds, butterflies, bees, titmice and more.
If you're using a loose planter, Gardens for Wildlife recommends placing small rocks or crushed clay at the bottom, adding organic compost and topsoil, and making sure the container has drainage. When you start in-soil pollination, you need to do some extra preparation to make sure the environment is right and no unwanted species get in the way, says Bills.
Although some weeds grow very quickly, they are actually handy for pollinators and can take up space, sunlight and soil. So it's important to remove them before planting (make sure you only use pesticides so you don't harm the environment of your native plants).
Your pollinator plants need well-drained soil. So if this is not already in place (the Pollinator Partnership technical manual suggests trying this by digging a small hole and filling it with water), loosen up to 5cm of soil with a spade or garden tongs. Avoid digging too deep as you don't want to initiate a dormant period. To do this, add organic compost or topsoil mulch, which will help retain moisture and discourage weed growth, then level the soil with a horizontal rake.
“A hole punch or rake can be useful for loosening soil or removing rocks. This earth auger is a nice, lightweight option with a comfortable grip. You can use it to loosen the soil and dig up weeds that you need to kill," Bills said.
This landscape shaker allows you to clean and tidy up the pollen garden without having to close it at an awkward angle. In addition, the fiberglass body is incredibly lightweight, weighing less than 2 pounds.
When planting the seeds, be sure to spread them evenly over the area and make sure they are actually in the soil and not just lying on it. Ali suggests creating native plants, or "pollination targets" - just make sure they have enough room to grow. Allen suggests putting mulch between the perennials in the meantime.
Although wildflowers require less maintenance than other plants, you will need to water them daily, especially for the first few weeks after roots take root in the soil. Depending on where you live, you may need to increase or decrease watering frequency. See plant guides for specific regions. If you don't want to stand next to a hose every time your plants need to be watered, Allen recommends considering a hose that dispenses water from small fountains every week for an inexpensive watering system. If you use a dock, you can buy an automatic sprinkler so you don't have to maintain it as often. Once the plants are established, your pollinator garden will require minimal maintenance. Water the soil when it is dry; Occasionally remove weeds as they grow (try a plant detection app like this one). And leave the seed heads in the fall as they will feed the birds all winter.
A watering schedule is critical to the success of your indoor garden. "There's no point in doing all this work to create a more balanced environment if we don't think about water first," says Allen. This weekly hose gives you the option of misting or soaking your plants, which is helpful if you live in a climate that doesn't get constant rain or is dry.
When you choose the container garden, there are countless planting options available to you. "I recommend self-watering pots and deep pots for better plant growth and for growing plants that can survive the winter," says Allen. The Tufts Pollinator Initiative recommends planting at least 16 inches deep to accommodate the deep roots of native species. Even the smallest size of this sustainable garden bed is over 60cm deep and has an integrated water collection and distribution system that makes watering easy.
Not only your plants are thirsty. "Pollinators also need water," Ali said. "Place large rocks in the bird bath so pollinators and birds can drink (not at the same time)." This tub looks simple and versatile and would suit any garden. It is made from recycled plastic and bamboo fibers. Note that standing water attracts mosquitoes. Therefore, fill the bird bath regularly.
With this free app, you can easily identify weeds in your garden that you aren't sure whether to remove or new flowers that have sprouted from your seed collection.
You don't need much to start or maintain a flower pollinator garden, but here are some tools and materials recommended by our experts.
You can start your pollen gardening journey with a large pot. "There are beautiful recycled barrels and buckets and all sorts of cheap things or really handmade ceramic containers that you can grow plants in and transport them in," Allen said. This is a good option if you want to add an automatic watering feature. Made from 80% recycled materials, it is available deep into plant roots and into the water system.
“The hand spade is particularly useful when planting logs or rows,” says Bills. Ali recommends Cicuti instruments, zosternim lezvim, kak etot.
Safety is always important when gardening. "Fight your hands, thorns and dirt with durable gloves that fit well and provide good support - Ali offers this pair with reinforced fingertips and palm pads."
Wildflowers grown as pollinators, unlike other plants, do not require special care, but it is important to clean them from time to time. If you add pollinators with trees, shrubs, and other plants to fill the space, consider supporting them as well. Ali recommends this collection. “[Eto] shows Razmera Delia Rezki and Obrezki Rashnye, Obrezki Y, Obrezki tsvetov and Forumtian Kushtov, – r.
While not critical, Ali says it's not a bad idea to "provide more places for nesting birds." In the last month if you have decided the credit worthiness for a professional professional search account short.
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Take the guesswork out of planning plant placement with this tool that measures how much sunlight specific areas in your garden are receiving.
