Tips For Supporting Pollinators – Edge Of The Woods Native Plant Nursery, LLC

Monarchs nectaring on purple potted joe-pye weed.

Pollinators are a Keystone Species

• A large number of other species rely on pollinators for survival:  animals, birds, and ultimately US!
• Pollinators are an indicator species:
  • The health of the pollinator population gives a glimpse into the health of the entire ecosystem.

Plant species in groupings of at least 3 per species. No need to separate them with mulch. This provides a good ‘target’ for pollinators to find.

Planting for Pollinators

• Give pollinators a good ‘target’ by placing like species in groups of at least 3.
  • Pollinators can spot it quickly, and move from one flower to the other and collect a full load of pollen to bring back to their nest
• Let your plants fill the bed – no need to separate plants with mulch.  Pollinators can hop from one plant to the next so much easier!
• Plan for a succession of overlapping blooms from spring to fall.
•   There are native plants for pollinators that bloom before the first, and after the last, frost!
• Our native bees are important pollinators. They have specific flight ranges so the needed plants must be within that range.
  • Bumblebees can fly a mile or so.
  • Leafcutter bees  can fly 400-500 yards
  • Small sweat bees: 200 yards
  • The tiniest bee of all:  only a couple hundred feet!

Include plants that bloom all season. Asters are important for late season pollinators, and bloom even after a frost!

Managing a Pollinator Landscape

• Limit the use of pesticides
• Minimized mowed lawn area
• Offer nesting and egg laying sites such as un-mulched bare ground, snags, rock piles, and brush piles.
• Don’t forget trees and shrubs – pollinators need them too!
• Be sure to included native warm season grasses
  • They provide nesting materials and nesting sites
  • Some butterflies rely on them for larval food

Include nesting and refuge sites for pollinators by providing brush piles and un-mulched soil.

TL/DR

• Plant a diversity of native species.
• The easiest way to provide pollinator habitat is to leave your native garden alone. Dead trees, overgrown areas, rock piles, and brush piles are all good.
• Don’t spray pesticides.