Pollinator-Friendly Spring Garden Tips
Eco-friendly features are increasingly important when it comes to home value these days. Considering that, and the fact that pollinators are responsible for around one-third of the food we eat, incorporating pollinator-friendly practices can be a big plus in more ways than one!
Did You Know?
The honey bees that get a lot of press when it comes to pollinator troubles were introduced to the U.S. from Europe in the 17th century. They're used extensively in agriculture, but thousands of native moths, butterflies, beetles and bees play crucial roles in pollinating all kinds of plants, including commercial crops.
For example, one bumble bee can pollinate up to 5,000 flowers in one day, while the tiny metallic green sweat bee is an important pollinator of wildflowers, stone fruits, apple trees and alfalfa.
A hummingbird clearwing moth feeding on nectar.
What Kinds of Flowers Do Bees Like?
Plant choices can be overwhelming if we're not sure where to start! Here are some easy tips.
Blue, white, and yellow petals (but not red).
Bees are attracted to purple, violet, blue, white and yellow flowers. They apparently can't see red, but are sometimes attracted to the ultra-violet colors present in the petals of some red flowers.
Flowers with single tops.
Simple, single-headed flowers make it easy for bees to reach pollen and nectar. They struggle on complex flower tops, and some highly ornamental flowers contain little or no pollinator food.
Russian Sage is a winner.
Russian Sage is a low maintenance, drought-tolerant shrub whose small blue flowers are extremely attractive to bees. Formerly named
Petrovskia atroplicifolia, it has been reclassified and is now sold as
Salvia yangii.
What Colors Do Other Pollinators Like?
Butterflies tend to favor red flowers, along with yellow, orange, pink and purple.
Hummingbirds are very attracted to red, especially when the bloom has a short tubular shape. They also like bright colors such as orange, pink and yellow.
Hummingbird Feeders Require Special Care
Feeders need to be cleaned out at least twice a week in hot weather and once a week in cool weather in order to prevent Hummer's Candidiasis, a fungal infection that causes the hummingbird's tongue to swell up. It's fatal if not treated and is frequently acquired at feeders.
Another crucial step is the sugar solution, which should be made with white sugar and without red dye. As counterintuitive as it may sound, more "natural" sweeteners such as honey, raw sugar, brown sugar and molasses are actually dangerous to hummingbirds.
Plan for Blooms from Spring Through Fall
Here's a handy list of early, middle, and late season plants that attract pollinators:
An easy alternative is to plant a mix of perennial and annual flowers. Annual flowers tend to have a longer blooming window and can be planted in virtually any USDA Hardiness Zone because they don't have to withstand the winter.
.
Delaying Spring Yard Work Can Work Wonders
Many native pollinators lay eggs on leaves, and some nest or overwinter in solitary underground burrows, under leaf litter, or inside the stems of dead plants. These habitat preferences put them especially at risk from traditional gardening practices.
Some life stages of the Swallowtail butterfly.
Of course it's not realistic for most people to turn their yard spaces into untouched wildlife habitat, but putting off clearing brush, digging up old garden beds or cutting grass until the average temperature is around 50 degrees can provide that extra bit of time many pollinators need in order to hatch or come out of winter dormancy.
Steer Clear of These Chemicals
Look for plants that have not been treated with neonicotinoids, chemicals considered to be harmful to pollinators. Most stores have phased these out over the past few years, but it's still a good idea to check. Anything containing acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam qualifies as a neonicotinoid.
Small Gardens Are Important Too
It's easy to assume that a balcony or patio garden won't do much to support wildlife, but some bees have small home ranges and can live their entire life in a 10 by 20-foot enclave. For species like these, a small container garden of pollinator-friendly plants can be a life-sustaining haven.
A Quick "Cheat Sheet" of Pollinator Favorites
Gardening choices can be overwhelming! Here's a list of flowers that are usually high on the list when it comes to attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Montbretia (Crocosmia Lucifer)
Anise Hyssop (Agastache)
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Russian, Autumn and Pineapple Sage
Hardy Fuschia (Magellanica)
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Beardtongue (Penstamon)
Coneflower (Echinacea)
Wallflower (Erysimum)
| 
