It’s also a good idea to choose a variety of at least three types of flowers that bloom in the spring, summer, and fall.ĭepending on where you live, this mix could include crocus, hyacinth, and lilac for spring blooms the aptly-named bee balm, cosmos, and echinacea for the summer and zinnias, aster, and goldenrod for the fall. When choosing flowers to plant, the best advice is to find flowers that are native to your area: a helpful guide, with downloadable PDFs per region, can be found here. And this applies not only to agricultural chemicals, but also to standard lawn-care products be sure to check ingredients carefully for the presence of harmful neonicotinoids. Some pesticides kill bees outright, while others attack their brains, disorienting them and reducing their ability to pollinate. Hand in hand with growing a “wild corner” is the need to avoid pesticides and chemical fertilizers. In truth, however, what most attracts pollinators are the very plants and flowers that are often mistaken for weeds.Īnd while we are not saying you must allow your entire yard to grow wild (although it’s a great excuse not to mow!), just creating a small space for wild-flower growth – perhaps a border area or out-of-the-way patch – allows pollinators the areas they need to feed and proliferate. ![]() For years, we have been taught that yards need to be “tidy”: grass cut, weeds pulled, nothing out of place. The first thing we need to do is to change how we envision our yards and open spaces. In today’s post, we’ll discuss everything you need to get started. The plants spread by pollinators also prevent soil erosion and keep carbon out of the atmosphere, combating climate change.Īnd although pollinators are under severe threat, there is something very concrete we can do to help save them: turn your backyard or space into a “nectar corridor” by planting wildflowers. ![]() crops – and half of the world’s oils and fibers. Pollinators are responsible for the survival of plants that bring us fruits, vegetables and nuts – including some 150 U.S. How important are bees and other pollinators for our food supply? Let’s put it this way: one in every three bites of your food wouldn’t be there if weren’t for them.
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