Pollinator Gardens: Landscaping for the Birds and the Bees

We often spend time trying to figure out ways to keep critters out of our yards. Not all critters are bad, however, and landscaping for some of them can be beneficial. Take the birds and bees, for instance. In recent years, pollinator gardens have risen in popularity; for good reason. Pollinators, such as hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles are a tremendous part of the ecosystem—contributing to the food chain of about 1/3 of the food we eat. Through contemporary development and agriculture practices around the world, though, these animals are losing their primary food sources.

Pollinator gardens help to replenish some of that food source and make your landscaping a more robust and colorful environment at the same time. When planning a pollinator garden, here are key factors to keep in mind.

• Select plants that bloom throughout the year so as to maintain a steady production of pollen at different times of year. In doing so, keep in mind that flowers with different colors and shapes will attract a wider spectrum of pollinators. For instance, hummingbirds are drawn to fuschia, purples and reds, while butterflies like oranges, reds, and yellows. To that end, here is a list of pollinator plants to keep in mind if you want to create a pollinator garden:
  • Bee Balm
  • Cardinal Flower
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Columbine
  • Delphinium
  • Dianthus
  • Penstemon
  • Pincushion Flower / Scabosia
  • Salvia
  • Verbena
• Try to plant flowers and plants in clumps instead of individually. This “bouquet” approach will attract more pollinators
• It’s not always just about the pollinators. For instance, while garden herbs like basil, lavender, and rosemary are a wonderful source of nectar, you can also use them in your own dishes.
• Plants that are native to your grow area will attract more local pollinators.
• Milkweed is a great source of food for monarch butterfly caterpillars.

Caring for Pollinator Gardens
Choosing the plants/flowers and getting them in the ground is just the first step. Once completed, you’ll need to shift your focus to maintenance. We mentioned native plants a moment ago. While they will attract native pollinators, they will also require less maintenance that most other plants. That said, your entire garden will still require care.

• Do your watering early in the morning and/or in the evening. This avoids competition with the sun, which can cause some water to evaporate before the garden can absorb it.
• Use a rain barrel to hold water that runs off of the roof of your house or garage. This is also great for your water bill!
• Attach a soaker hose to your garden hose or rain barrel. A soaker hose provides more efficient “drip” watering than a sprinkler. You can usually find a 75-foot soaker hose at your local home improvement store for around $20. If you opt for a sprinkler, make sure you calibrate it so that it isn’t wasting water in driveways or on the sides of outbuilding in your yard.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast. In the first growing season, plants will need more water. This helps them establish a strong root system. On average, your garden will need about one inch of water per week. You can measure the rainfall with a rain gauge, which costs less than $10, to ensure your are not watering too little or too much.
• Mulch helps. By placing mulch around the base of plants, you can help retain moisture in the soil and combat weed growth. Some popular mulch options include straw, wood chips, and shredded bark. The key is to keep the mulch shallow. You can also accommodate ground-nesting bees by leaving little pockets of the garden mulch-free.

Share Your Pollinator Garden
When your pollinator garden is all set up, consider registering it with the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, where you can also find other resources on pollinator gardens. Also, if you are thinking about installing a pollinator garden or any other landscaping, feel free to call E.P.M. of Michigan at (517) 990-0110 or contact us online.