Tuesday’sProtect the Pollinatorssymposium at theMinnesota Landscape Arboretumincluded four great speakers on butterflies , bees , other pollinator , the threats they face and what gardener can do about them . One over - ride message of the symposium was that while there are definite terror to pollinator , which are life-sustaining tofood yield , there is hope , and home gardeners can have a huge , positive impact on pollinators .
HorticulturistJulia Bohnenoffered concrete suggestions for home gardeners . We ’re going to consecrate three blog posts to this important theme . Today ’s place will hide the garden features that patronise pollinators . On Saturday , we ’ll talk about garden practices and Monday ’s post will comprehend the best plant life for pollinator .
It ’s easy to make pollinator friendly garden . Many of the features that pollinators like , homo like , too . Here are seven garden features Julie recommends to advance pollinators .
Leaf-cutter bees nested in this home-made bee house.
1)A divers landscape . Some pollinator postulate specific plants or specific types of flower , so industrial plant lots of different variety of bush , trees and perennial with a multifariousness of peak forms ( cannular , flat - top , etc . ) to bring in a variety of pollinator and to meliorate the overall resiliency of your landscape painting .
2)Shelter and savor spot . Some pollinators overwinter in the North . So , do n’t be too spry to houseclean up your garden . Create microclimates that are warm for butterflies to savor .
3)Water features . Bees and butterfly need water , too ! birdbath , shallow spot on the footing where water may gather up , plants with crevice where water can pool are all great imbibition fountains for pollinators . Here ’s agreat ideafor a pollinator imbibition spot we saw recently .
Leaf-cutter bees nested in this home-made bee house.
4)Bare point and clay spots . Many bees nest in the ground and they involve to find spots to do that so do n’t be too quick to cover every inch of your landscape painting in mulch .
5)Natural mulches . Those areas you do mulch are best covered with natural materials — leaf mulch , barque , shred wood . These also provide protection and nesting spots .
6)A little mess . A light touch pile may take care messy to some , but to pollinator it await like home .
7)A bee house . you could make abee housefor orchard mason bees and other native bee , but the houses should be cleanse out each year . Another idea is to satisfy a structure with empty stick , which can be replace each year . They are available for sale or you could collect sticks from your holding . The optimal size of it is 5 to 7 inches long with a 1/4 column inch diameter hole .
There are plenty of books out now on pollinator friendly gardens . This onefrom theXerces Societyis readable and thorough .
Tomorrow : Best practices for pollinator friendly garden .
