While we are all preparing to close up our gardens for the upcoming Winter season, now is a good time to think of what you want next year's to look like. So today I'm going to talk about how to make your garden more pollinator friendly next year.
The reason a garden is great when it's pollinator friendly is that you will get pollination of your existing flowers and even veggies. It looks beautiful of course but you also will get to enjoy your garden beds while observing nature at work. Nothing is more relaxing than doing an evening stroll around your yard and seeing the hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees enjoying your blooms. It's a win win all around. So here's how to do it.
Choose native plants
Native plants are plants that are FROM your specific area. Each state has different native plants but most nurseries label them as such. The reason native plants are great for pollinators is because they are not only easy to maintain because they can thrive in the climate for your area and require less watering and fertilizing, but they attract native pollinators. What better way to get pollinators in your yard than to provide the food they are naturally drawn to?
Choose flowers that attract pollinators
When you are at a nursery and are perusing the selection of plants, you will often see signage that notes that certain plants attract butterflies, bees, or hummingbirds. Choose those! Those ones are typically either native to your area or they have specific colors a lot of pollinators like. You are also doing your part on the planet by feeding nature.
Choose perennials
Perennials are less maintenance so you won't need to worry about spending time and money each Spring buying all sorts of new annuals. And another great benefit is that you can shop your own yard for perennials. I usually divide perennials and plant them in different areas of the yard. I actually have about 5 different sets of coneflower plants that all came from one plant I bought many years ago. Because coneflower is a perennial (and it's native in my area), I don't need to fuss over it and worry about if it has enough water or needs fertilizer.
So really just doing these 3 things can help you have a more pollinator friendly garden for years to come.
What do you do to attract pollinators currently?
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