How to Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden not only helps you maintain a healthy ecosystem but also provides you with gorgeous views. In order to attract beneficial pollinators, you’ll need to include a variety of plants to draw in different insects and birds.

While gardening has always been a popular hobby, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 it has grown by leaps and bounds, with no signs of slowing. In fact, many seed companies, like Baker Creek Seeds, have seen a huge increase in demand, and many have had to shut down their sites because they simply cannot keep up with the volume of sales. Here are the top reasons many homeowners cite for starting a garden:

While fruits and vegetables are a popular choice among gardeners, growing flowers is the most popular gardening activity at nearly 73% of surveyed homeowners. However, many casual gardeners do not take pollinators into consideration when choosing their plants. Attracting wildlife such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds not only makes your garden more visually appealing, it also helps your garden and the local ecosystem. So whether you’re planning to update a current garden or you’re starting a brand new one, here are some tips on how to attract more pollinators. The best part is that these tips work great whether you have a lot of space or you’re growing on a balcony!

Why Plant a Pollinator Garden?

You probably learned in elementary school about pollinators and how they help plants reproduce, but they also serve as an important part of a balanced ecosystem. With adequate pollination, plants:

Somewhere between 75%-95% of all flowering plants on Earth need help with pollination. For that, they need pollinators. While the No. 1 pollinator is the native honey bee, other pollinators include:

Butterflies
Small mammals
Flies
Moths
Beetles
Wasps
Birds
Bats

Unfortunately, pollinator populations are declining due to pollution, misuse of chemicals, disease, and changes in climate patterns. Luckily, you can help the population by creating a garden that welcomes pollinators of all kinds!

Plan Your Garden Wisely

Even if you already have started a garden, it might be time to give it another look to see if it is pollinator-friendly. While you don’t need to micromanage your garden, you should consider the following:

Location. Flowering plants can do well in both shady and sunny locations, but bees and butterflies tend to prefer hanging out in the sun. You should also think about including some other plants that can shield your pollinator-friendly plants from the wind.
Soil type. Take a look at your soil and look at its properties. Is it well-drained or compact? Is it a nice dark-brown color or is it sandy or red? You can check your county for a local soil mapper to learn more. Your soil type will determine what kind of plants you can grow. If you’re container gardening, make sure to choose soil that works for your plants as some might require more nutrients than others.
Resting areas. Pollinators need shelter to hide from predators, protect themselves against inclement weather, and raise their young. If you have the space, think about potential nesting sites to promote colonization of garden areas. Bee hotels are a great option if you have native solitary bees such as red mason bees, blue mason bees, leafcutter bees, and white-faced bees. Honey bees and bumble bees live in colonies, so the hotels likely won’t be used by them.
Have water. While the nectar from the plants provides a good food source for pollinators, they also need something to drink. You can put out special feeders for butterflies and hummingbirds that provide both food and water. If you don’t have enough space for that, you can put out a small basin or bowl to collect rainwater. This will attract bees, butterflies, and even birds!

Consider Your Plants

While it might be tempting to go for the plants that you personally find appealing, if you want to help out the pollinators, you’ll need to do a bit more research. In most cases, you’ll want to choose native plants over exotic ones as they tend to be heartier and they will attract native pollinators. Most native pollinators require very specific plants in order to grow and thrive. For example, larvae of Persius duskywing and frosted elfin butterflies only feed on wild lupine. Unfortunately, this plant has been supplanted by another, and as such these butterflies have become critically endangered.

You’ll also want to think about where you buy your plants from. Many large garden centers treat their plants with pesticides and neonicotinoids to kill pests. Unfortunately, these chemicals can also kill or harm pollinators and can stay in the leaves and pollen of these plants for up to seven years!

Choosing what plants to grow might sound overwhelming, but your local native plant or botanical society will often sell native plants or can provide you with a list of native plants and where to buy them. They can even provide a list of plants that support native pollinators. It might cost you a bit more initially, but if you invest in perennials, you’ll only need to purchase them once as they will grow back year after year. More importantly, you’ll be able to collect seeds and plant some more for next year’s garden!

When it comes to choosing your plants, make sure to consider the following:

Color. While insects and birds don’t see color the same way as we do, color is still very important in attracting pollinators. Butterflies tend to like orange, white, and yellow while bees are attracted to flowers that have ultraviolet signals. They also like yellow, blue, and purple flowers.
Shape. Flower shape is very important when it comes to attracting certain pollinators. Choose flowers that are small and tube-like to attract bees and moths. Butterflies need to land in order to eat, so mid-sized flowers with open petals are your best option.
Season. Pollinators require nectar from early spring to late fall so you’ll want to grow flowers that either bloom throughout the season or flowers that will bloom at different times to provide a consistent source of food.
Life cycle. Some plants will support pollinators throughout the entire life cycle, so it’s a good idea to plant some of these flowers. Monarch butterflies, for example, plant their seeds on milkweeds, which the larvae eat exclusively. Later when they become butterflies, they will drink nectar from the flowers.
Grouping. Try to group several of the same flowers together as it makes it easier for pollinators to gather food. It also helps you save on your water bills as you can group water-loving plants together.

Make Your Garden a Haven for Pollinators

While it might take a bit more research and effort, creating a pollinator-friendly garden is well worth it. You’ll be helping out your local pollinator population and also benefiting from a beautiful garden. The most important tip, in general, is to be patient! Pollinators won’t come overnight. However, if you provide the appropriate care for your plants and choose the right plants, they will find you eventually. In the meantime, you’ll have a great view!