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Make your yard and garden pollinator friendly

After this long winter, it’s only natural to want to get a jump start on gardening. But before you grab your tools and head out to clean up last year’s plant debris, consider your impact on pollinator insects. Pollinator insects, like bees, transfer pollen to flowering plants to fertilize them so the plants can reproduce, including the plants that produce the food we eat. You may be surprised to learn that doing less yard work isn’t only easier on you, but also on pollinator insects.

Follow these pollinator-friendly practices from Ramsey County Master Gardener Volunteers in maintaining your garden:

• Let wildflowers stand year-round because countless beneficial insects live in the plant stems. Or, if you are uncomfortable with their appearance, cut them back to about 8 inches from the ground. Be sure to wait to cut plants down until nighttime low temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit for several days in a row, which typically occurs around Mother’s Day. Cutting stems to the ground in the fall or too early in the spring displaces—and potentially kills—the countless beneficial insects residing within them.
• Consider leaving some soil bare so bees can access it. Since 60-70% of the 400+ native Minnesota bee species nest in soil, it is important to avoid the temptation to mulch every square inch of your garden. You can also move leaves to unnoticeable places to provide habitat for beneficial insects.
• Consider adding more native wildflowers that offer higher-quality nectar and pollen. A garden that blooms from late April to October not only looks gorgeous but also offers food to pollinators all growing season long.
• Incorporate clover and other low-growing flowering plants, such as the self-heal plant, in your lawn. Seeds can be scattered in bare areas or directly on top of existing lawns.

 

Learn more about pollinator-friendly yards and gardens.