6 Ways to Make Your Garden Pollinator Friendly
Let’s talk about pollinators… Birds, bats, bees, wasps, moths and butterflies are all considered pollinators because they feed off nectar and pollen from plants, then help to carry it to the same or other plants. Monarch butterflies and bumble bees are Michigan's top pollinators. Pollinator populations are declining at an alarming rate, almost 90% due to habitat loss, climate change, and harmful pesticides. Without pollinators we can't get new plants, and without new plants we don't get the fruits and vegetables we eat everyday, or the medicines, fibers, clothing, etc. The decline in pollinators impacts everyone on the planet, not just the the pollinators.
We can help make a big impact by making small changes in how we approach gardening.
Here are 6 ways you can help create a pollinator friendly garden:
Create natural, uncultivated spaces where native wildflowers and grasses can grow. Astilbe, black eyed susan, cardinal flower, spotted joe pye weed, bee balm, purple cone flower, and butterfly weed are few examples of native flowers perfect for a (Michigan) “native garden”. The island in my backyard is a whimsical (mostly) uncultivated space dedicated to native pollinator plants.
Allow milkweed varieties to grow in your garden. Milkweed has a bad rep for being toxic. Milkweed is only toxic when consumed in very large quantities, and thus a very low risk. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed so the more milkweed the more butterflies.
Avoid purchasing plants that have been pre-treated with pesticides. To do this, you might have to go the extra mile and ask the nursery how they treat their plants. Avoid and look out for neonicotinoid pesticides, or neonics: dinotefuran, imidacloprid, clothianidin, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam. Plants treated with neonics spread the chemical into the soil through their roots, while pollinators spread it to other plants. The impact of these pesticides on pollinators can be deadly and the toxicity remains in the soil for years. When in doubt, purchase seeds that haven’t been coated.
Less is more: Mow less often and let grass grow naturally to improve pollinator habitats and ecosystem. Everyone strives for a perfectly manicured lawn, but these types of gardening goals aren’t beneficial to the environment, only our eyes. Approach mowing less with balance; designate a spot in your garden for free growing grass, or keep the front yard well kept while the backyard remains more natural.
Plant a diverse garden of pollinator plants (perennials and annuals) that have overlapping blooming seasons (May-September). That way pollinators can always get the nutrition they need.
Live in the city? Attract and feed pollinators by planting a window box garden of pollinator friendly herbs such as sage, thyme, and rosemary.
There is no planet B, or plan bee, so it’s important we keep ourselves informed and do what we can to keep pollinators around.
Support the cause
Aside from gardening practices, you can help make an impact by supporting the cause! Bees in the D , Bee Responsible, Pollinator Partnership, and Xerces, are all dedicated to protecting pollinators through education, habitat creation, advocacy, and research.
This “save the bees” top is from Wholesome Culture, they give back 10% of their profits to animal rescue and environmental organizations.