Keeping our pollinators happy is a great way to keep our environment thriving. There are many different types of pollinators. Bees, butterflies, birds, bats; all pollinate various plants and keep gardens and crops at peak performance. If you have a little swath of land, even just a deck, you can create a garden that will help our pollinators flourish.
There are many different types of pollinator gardens. Some are made just for bees, while others are great for butterflies, moths, and beetles. The specific plants you choose for yours should be plants native to the area so that they do well in your soil and climate.
For bees, you want to bunch the plants close together and create what is called “bee lawns” so they can hop from flower to flower quickly. Make sure to include a variety of plants that bloom at different times of the year, and keep in mind that they’re most attracted to flowers that are purple, blue, and yellow. Having bee lawns in your front and backyard gives them plenty of plants to choose from and keeps rival colonies from running each other off. If you’re planting on your deck, be sure to place a shallow bowl in the middle of your pollinator garden with water in it, so they have a fresh water source, too.
For butterflies and moths, large bushy foliage is the answer. You’ll want plants that do well in spring and summer, provide lots of flowers throughout those months, and grow at least three to four feet off the ground. Butterflies also have particular preferences on which bushes they cocoon and lay their eggs on. They’re partial to milkweed and lantanas. Butterflies are very wary of humans, so you’ll want to plant their gardens further from your house than bee gardens.
Hummingbirds are another pollinator that you can create a garden for. These beautiful birds prefer bell-shaped flowers that they can easily hover in front of in shades of red and yellow. Check which hummingbirds tend to migrate through your area so you can plan which plants they need. They like lots of colors and a large variety with plenty of room to navigate.
You can combine all three types of pollinator gardens into one if you have the space. Choose a corner of your yard and place the hummingbird garden along your property line, then the butterfly garden in front of that, and the bee garden along the ground and edges. This makes for beautiful landscaping and allows a variety of pollinators to enjoy your yard.
