Bees are essential to the production of fruits and seeds - backyard gardeners are important to their survival.
Garden pollinators play a crucial role in the reproductive process of many plants by transferring pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts, facilitating fertilization. Colorado ranks fifth in the nation for bee die-off, so it's important to care about them.
Common garden pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, beetles, and even some small mammals like bats. You can help the bees by intentionally inviting pollinators into your garden and landscape. Here's how:
How attract and support garden pollinators
Plant a Variety: Different pollinators are attracted to different flowers. Plant flowers and seeds with various colors, shapes, and sizes to attract a variety of pollinators.
Provide a Water Source: Pollinators need water, especially in hot weather. Providing a shallow dish or birdbath with clean water can attract and support them.
Avoid Pesticides - they can harm pollinators. Opt for natural pest control methods in your garden.
Create Habitat: Provide nesting sites for pollinators such as leaving some areas of bare soil for ground-nesting bees or installing bee hotels for solitary bees.
Plant Native Plants: Native plants are well-adapted to the local environment and are often more attractive to native pollinators. Native plants/shrubs to consider include rabbitbrush, catmint, Apache plume, coneflowers, bee-balm (Monarda), Russian sage, blue salvia, and wodewaxen. All are highly deer resistant.
Plant for Continuous Bloom: You want flowers blooming throughout the growing season - that's a good four to five months where we live. A landscape designer can give you a plan for what to plant based on when it blooms. If you're planting seeds for annual color, consider succession plantings to provide a continuous food source for pollinators.
For a deep dive into the specific pollinators in our region and their needs click here. This knowledge will help you create a pollinator-friendly garden.
Common garden pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, beetles, and even some small mammals like bats. You can help the bees by intentionally inviting pollinators into your garden and landscape. Here's how:
How attract and support garden pollinators
Plant a Variety: Different pollinators are attracted to different flowers. Plant flowers and seeds with various colors, shapes, and sizes to attract a variety of pollinators.
Provide a Water Source: Pollinators need water, especially in hot weather. Providing a shallow dish or birdbath with clean water can attract and support them.
Avoid Pesticides - they can harm pollinators. Opt for natural pest control methods in your garden.
Create Habitat: Provide nesting sites for pollinators such as leaving some areas of bare soil for ground-nesting bees or installing bee hotels for solitary bees.
Plant Native Plants: Native plants are well-adapted to the local environment and are often more attractive to native pollinators. Native plants/shrubs to consider include rabbitbrush, catmint, Apache plume, coneflowers, bee-balm (Monarda), Russian sage, blue salvia, and wodewaxen. All are highly deer resistant.
Plant for Continuous Bloom: You want flowers blooming throughout the growing season - that's a good four to five months where we live. A landscape designer can give you a plan for what to plant based on when it blooms. If you're planting seeds for annual color, consider succession plantings to provide a continuous food source for pollinators.
For a deep dive into the specific pollinators in our region and their needs click here. This knowledge will help you create a pollinator-friendly garden.
Supporting pollinators benefits your garden and also contributes to the health of all our ecosystems by promoting biodiversity.