Help Pollinators By Not Pulling Plants

Beards tongue plants have spread through one of my flower beds. Bumblebees love them!

How to Help Pollinators By Not Pulling Plants

Do you have plants taking over a garden corner in swaths? Leave them. Many pollinators, such as hummingbirds and bees, depend on large swaths of plants for nectar and pollen.

I know there’s a tendency to want to keep everything nice and neat but that doesn’t necessarily help pollinators. For example, turf grass takes out a potential source for cover and pollen for ground-nesters. Some 80% of all native bees make their homes in the ground.

If you know you have a nest in the ground, plan a flower bed around the nest to protect the pollinator home and minimize family members walking over it getting stung, You can use those extra plants that you want to thin out of another flower bed.

I am not saying you shouldn't think out flower beds; sometimes it's necessary. Just thin out flower beds later in the season when temperatures are more bearable and you have a better plan for where the extra plants will live.

Next, how to help pollinators by not using pesticides.

Charlotte