How To Plant For Pollinators

Oct 07th 2020

There’s something almost magical about sitting in your garden and watching bees snuggle into the centers of flowers or butterflies flit through the air. Along with their aesthetically pleasing appearance, butterflies, bees, and birds are pollinators that are integral to helping our native ecosystems flourish and thrive.

If you’re interested in planting for pollinators or you want help establishing a pollinator garden in your green space, consider the following tips.

For even more help, get in touch with our lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn Care to schedule landscaping services

Pick Native Plants To Attract Native Pollinators

Pollinators are an essential part of life because they allow plants to reproduce. Unfortunately, this vital group is in crisis due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and the widespread use of toxic chemical pesticides that threaten insects, bats, birds, bees, and other species crucial to our ecosystems. Among these species, native pollinators are among the most sensitive to these pressures, as they require specific, native plants to survive. Like people, pollinators need food, water, shelter, and a safe and healthy environment to live and raise their young. Fortunately, both novice and expert gardeners can do their part with Florida native planting.

Native plants have evolved along with native pollinators, making these plants and flowers for bees and other pollinators the most beneficial vegetation type for the ecosystem. Florida native plants are more likely to withstand the elements — namely, harsh winds, rains, and tropical events — than non-natives. If you’re looking for plants that attract butterflies and other pollinators, we recommend varieties such as black-eyed Susan, cannas, coral honeysuckle, marigolds, and sunflowers, among others. Visit your local nursery for organic-grown native vegetation your Florida garden will love!

Consider Pollinators At All Life Cycle Stages

There are no butterflies without caterpillars! The ideal butterfly garden includes plants that will feed pollinators at each of their life stages — both immature to adult pollinators require adequate nutrition and necessary environment requirements to thrive in your garden. Adult pollinators need a diverse selection of native plants with abundant pollen and nectar throughout the growing season planted in groups for easy access. Immature pollinators, such as moth larvae, require host plants. Hydration is likewise critical to ensuring pollinators of all life cycle stages thrive.

Maximize flower pollination by making sure your garden includes muddy spots where insects and other pollinators can access water and soil minerals, drained areas for ground-nesting, and protective habitats, including nesting materials, such as hollow-stemmed plants, bare soil, and decaying wood, grasses, and leaves.

Lay Out Your Pollinator Garden Design

As with any garden, planting new trees and flowers in your pollinator garden requires some degree of planning to ensure optimal success. You should consider a wide range of factors while picking and planting pollinator garden plants to ensure you make not only an aesthetically-pleasing garden but also one beneficial for local pollinators. Select a native variety of flowers that attract bees and other types of pollinators that bloom throughout the season. Consider local plant species that support larvae and those that offer protective habitats, such as grasses and stocky plants.

Home gardeners should likewise reap up on plants’ growing habits while making their selections and plan for one plant per square foot of soil, as dense planting helps lock in moisture and reduces weeds. When grouping native plants in your bee garden, we recommend planting in clusters of four or five plants. This practice helps facilitate pollination and can create visual legibility in your garden. We also recommend planting moisture-loving plants in groups separate from those that need less water. Be sure to disperse color and bloom time throughout your garden to boost the vibrance of your garden and help feed pollinators throughout the year. 

Eliminate Pesticide Use Whenever Possible

Balancing the management of harmful garden pests with the preservation of helpful garden visitors can be difficult. While it might be tempting to use store-bought chemical pesticides to keep unwanted bugs off your plants, the harm caused to the environment and its inhabitants far outweighs the benefits pesticides provide. Many pesticides — even organic ones — can be particularly harmful to bees in your pollinator garden. 

If you do opt to use a pesticide, be highly critical of its contents by checking the label for hazard information and using the least-toxic variety possible. Be sure to only spray sparingly in the evening after bees and other pollinators are not active. For more information about pesticides and possible alternatives for your Florida-native pollinator garden, contact our lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn Care.

Learn more about the wide variety of ways our lawn service packages can help you achieve and maintain a healthy, vibrant, and beneficial garden year-round.