How to Make a Pollinator Garden (2024)

Even one single plant or tree that supports bees, butterflies and other pollinators can make a BIG difference in our gardens. Here are 10 ways to work with nature to make a pollinatorgarden!

Why is a PollinatorGarden?

Perhaps you’ve noticed fewer butterflies and bees in your own backyard? The populations of native bees, butterflies,and other insect pollinators have been declining for severaldecades.

Why does this matter? First, no insects means no food. Really! About three-fourths of all flowering plants are pollinated by insects, as well as the crops that produce more than one-third of the world’s food supply. Second, insects are the bedrock of our entire ecosystem (birds, lizards, frogs, and other wildlife). Without insects, the birds, fish, and small mammals that depend on them decline; if they decline, the entire food web and local ecosystem isaffected.

The Good News: Eeven one pollinator-friendly plant makes a significant difference! Even regular homeownerscan have a powerful impact, namely by plantingnative flowers, trees, andpollinator host plants, providing pollinator nesting sites, and creating a refuge from pesticides.

10 Tips to Make a PollinatorGarden

1. Choose Plants That SupportPollinators

Not every plant in your garden has to be “native,” but native plants will establish better and also bring in more pollinators.Native insects evolved alongside native plants, as did native birds and wildlife. It’s one big ecosystem! Exotic, non-native plants can sometimes wipe out native plant and insect species, which may harm the entire foodweb.

• Select native plants for your property. See a list of common native plants.
• Plant in clusters to create a “target” for pollinators to find. Remember that every patch helps– from window boxes to acres of farms toroadsides!
• Leave small areas for wildflowers and “weeds.” These wild plants are perfect for insects. See our video showing how to grow wildflowers to help pollinators!
• Consider amixture of plants with diversified sources of nectar (e.g., shrubs, trees, and flowers—ideally, all native varieties).Shrubs and trees such as dogwood, blueberry, cherry, plum, willow, and poplar provide pollen or nectar, or both, early in spring when food isscarce.
• Select plants for continuous bloom throughout the growing season from spring to fall in order to attract insects from spring throughfall.
• Select planting sites that aren’t windy, offer at least partial sun (4 to 5 hours of sunlight per day), and can provide water for pollinators closeby.
• Consider planting a pollinator strip as a border to a vegetable garden or a wildflower border along the edge of your field.You’ll improve the pollination of your crops and also support bees when the crops stop blooming. It will also attract and support other pollinators, such as hoverflies and wasps, which control crop pests.See our video showing how to plant apollinator borderin your yard orgarden!

2. Attract NativeBees!

Many people find insects annoying, but we should really start thinking about the fact that we can’t survive without them (although they certainly survived before ourarrival).

• Native bees are the most important pollinators in the ecosystem.While European honey bees have their place, it’s our native, solitary bees—such as mason bees and leafcutter bees—which are most critical to growing food and flowers.Learn more about native bees, our heros of pollination!
• Instead of living in colonies,many native bees are solitary, livingon their own in burrows, reeds, or other protected areas. Install a native bee hotel to help them out!Learn how to make abee house. One simple way to create a bee hotel is to drill holes of varying sizes in a dead tree that’s still standing (if beetles haven’t already done it foryou).
• Don’t forget to plant the right flowers for native bees! Here’s our new list of the best flowers for native bees, the #1pollinator.

Bees aren’t the only pollinators in the garden,though:

• Butterflies: Half of the butterfly species studied are in decline, with one-third threatened with extinction. See how to attract butterflies to the garden.
• Flies: While you may expect butterflies to be the #2 pollinator, flies are actually the ones that hold thatposition.
• Other insects—such as praying mantises, ladybugs, beetles, and green lacewings—are fantastic at tacklingpests.For example, lacewings and ladybugs eat aphids, which can decimate vegetablecrops.

→ Read “Beneficial Insects in the Garden” and see a list of the good bugs with pictures!

3. Go Easy on theChemicals

All gardens have some pests, but deter them in ways that won’t harm the food that you are growing or the beneficial insects!Remember thatchemical fertilizers and pesticides can eventually end up inrivers, oceans, and wetlands. Plus, pesticides tend to kill many more creatures than the one or two bug species that we target, as annoying as they mightbe.

• Instead of spraying with chemicals, consider other options.From diatomaceous earth to neem oil to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), there are many less-toxic methods availablethat really work wonders onpests.
• Here are 5 organic pesticides that are effective at besting badbugs.
• If you must use pesticides, read and follow ALL label directionscarefully.

4. Mix in “CompanionPlants”

Are you familiar with the practice of companion planting? Pair up the right plants to naturally repel pests and attract pollinators.For example, dillandbasilplanted among tomatoescan protectfromtomato hornworms. When paired together, companion plants improveeach other’s health andyields.

Also, mix flowers and vegetables together! You don’t have to choose between growing ornamentals and edibles.Many types of flowers confuse the “bad” pests and help you to grow a healthier garden at the sametime.

→See our Companion Planting Chart for plants and flowers which deterpests.

5. EncourageBirds

Yes, birds eat bugs. But birds are pollinators,too!

• Provide clean waterfor birds (and insects) with a shallow dish, bowl, or birdbath featuring half-submerged stones asperches.
• Put up bird feeders and nesting boxes. See how to choose a bird feeder.
• Plant flowers that attract hummingbirds and learn how to make your own hummingbird nectar.
• Don’t cut down theflowers of plants like sunflowers, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans in the fall, as their seed heads provide a valuable food source for birds inwinter.

→Learn more about creating a bird-friendly garden.

6. BeWater-Wise

Using water thoughtfully is a veryimportant part of a pollination-friendlylandscape.

• As advisedabove, select your plants with care! If you have a dry area, consider native plants that are more naturally drought-tolerant such assedum and speedwell(Veronica). If you have a wet area, consider moisture-tolerant plants thatdon’t mind having wet feet, such asiris, canna, andferns.
• Avoiding wasting water. If you must use sprinklers, put them on timers. Forgardens, flower beds, trees, and other non-lawn areas, consider installing a drip irrigation system that puts the water right into the soil, where you wantit.
• Harvest your rain water. A rain garden collectsrain water from a roof, driveway, or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Rain gardens can also help to filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds, and other wildlife.See a “sun” and a “shade” rain garden plot plan.

• Install a rain barrel to catch water and use it on your plants. See our article about using rainbarrels.
• Organic mulches such as compost and bark mulch help to slowwater down, ensuring that more moisture goes into the soil instead of running straight off. That said, it’s always a good idea to leave a little bare ground so that the solitary bees and pollinators have places to nest.Read more about the “Benefits of Mulch.”
• Finally, consider reducingthe size of the all-grass lawn. Perhaps you could stop mowing one section and convert it to a native wildflower border ormeadow?

7. TryComposting

Do you have spare room in the corner of your yard? Instead of throwing out vegetable scraps and yard trimmings, dispose of them in a compost pile. You’ll encourage compost-making worms and bugs that will help to create a rich, fertile soil for your garden within months. It’s a great way to use fallen leaves,too!

• We have the perfect compost recipe to get things cooking.See how to compost!
• There’s also in-garden or in-situ composting, which is the act of composting directly where you’re going to grow. See more about in-garden composting.
• Ever heard of vermicomposting? Just have worms eatyour garbage! It’s aneasy way to recycle food waste indoors year-round. See how to vermicompost.
• If you have roses or ornamental gardens, consider making “compost tea,” which is a natural fertilizer. See how to make compost tea.

8. Reduce, Reuse,Recycle

In general, caring about yourself and nature means being less wasteful. Who could argue with that? If you are a gardener, here are just a few ideas out ofmany:

• Buy in bulk when you know that you’ll need a lot of topsoil, mulch, compost, or other materials. This cuts down on plastic bags. Many garden centers will even deliver right to your yard. Also check with your city recycling center or Department of Transportation; they might offer free compost, soil, sand, or othermaterials.
• Reuse, recycle, or returnold plastic pots and trays. See six ways to reuse pots and containers.
• Make your own plant pots! See how to make biodegradable plant pots.

9. Give Grass a Chance to ThriveAlone

If you’re going to grow grass, eliminate the chemical pesticides that you spread on lawns in favor of alternatives that are healthier for you and theenvironment.

• Start by checking the soil pH (acidity) of your lawn with a test kit available at most nursery and garden supply stores or at your state’s cooperative extension service. Soil pH affects the ability of plants to absorb nutrients. Spread limestone to raise the pH level; spread aluminum sulfate to decrease the pHlevel.
• Grow grass that is suitable to your needs, not just in terms of climate and soil, but also with regard to purpose. Ask your nursery to recommend seed for grass that suits yoursite.
• Don’t shave the lawn down to the ground; mow it to be 2.5 to 3.5 inches tall all season. Cut it to about 2 inches inautumn.
• Leave parts of the lawn unmowed to create important habitat for pollinators and otherinsects.
• If at all possible, use a hand mower, instead of an electric or gas model. You’ll appreciate the freedom from fumes and noise and perhaps sleep more soundly after walking yourproperty.

10. Don’t Cleanup Dead Material in Fall or Rush SpringCleaning

Many insects hibernate for the winter and need a place to bed down. For example, new queen bumblebees are born in the fall. After breeding, they find a place to reside for the cold season, emerging in the spring and starting the next generation.Hole-nesting bees and beetles need things like dead tree trunksor reeds to overwinterin.

So, leave some natural areas of your yard instead of landscaping every inch!Allow material from dead branches and logs to remain as nesting sites, reduce mulch to allow patches of bare ground for ground-nesting bees to utilize, and consider installing wood nesting blocks for wood-nestingnatives.

Avoid cutting down everything in the fall, because dead material and hollow stems are lovely homes for pollinators and beneficial insects.Also, do not be in a rush to “spring clean” too early while pollinators like bees and butterflies are still overwintering. A good rule of thumb is to wait until temperatures are consistently about 50°F (10°C) to ensure a healthy pollinator population all season. When cleaning up in spring, if you notice that some old stems have been used for bee nesting, move them to a corner of your property to give bees a few more weeks to emerge on theirown.

Work With Nature, Not AgainstIt!

As we hope you see, you can certainly achieve a great deal with smallchanges in your own “habitat.”You’re supporting pollinators—andpeople!

Did you find this article helpful? We welcome your tips and questions abouthow to help insect populations below…