7 Ways to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

A thriving garden needs more than just healthy soil, water and sunshine. Pollinators like buzzing bees, birds and butterflies are essential to the life cycle of all flowering plants, from those in your own backyard garden plot to sprawling farms across the country. In fact, pollination contributes to a third of the world’s crop production, meaning pollinators are directly responsible for about one in every three bites of food you eat every day.

No matter how big or small your garden, finding ways to welcome pollinators can help you cultivate a more eco-friendly landscape by supporting pollinator populations. In return, those pollinators will help your plants thrive and grow a healthy crop. Scroll through the slideshow to learn how to attract pollinators year-round with these seven easy-to-implement ideas.

1. Add more native plants

Try to incorporate at least a few plants native to the United States (or even better, to your region) into your garden. Native plants are better adapted to the local climate and less prone to diseases and pests than nonnatives. They’re also more attractive to pollinators in the area. Because native plants co-evolved alongside native pollinators (providing birds, bees and butterflies with the nectar, seeds and pollen that serve as food), they have a well-established symbiotic relationship. Nonnative plants, on the other hand, may not provide enough nectar or pollen or may be inedible altogether for some pollinator species.

Not sure which plants to choose? The National Wildlife Federation has a convenient Native Plant Finder that allows you to search for plants by zip code and plant category.

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2. Provide shelter

Pollinators need a place to both rest and nest. This can be anything from a patch of unmowed grass to a shrub, dead tree, fallen tree limb, compost pile or bee box. Providing pollinators with these areas gives them a shelter for laying eggs, overwintering or protecting them from strong winds. Waiting until late spring for garden cleanup, or until daytime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees, can also help ensure overwintering pollinators in your garden go undisturbed.

See more: Florida’s Roadside Wildflowers Create Pollinator Habitats

3. Add a water source

Adding a source of water to your garden is an excellent way to attract pollinators. A birdbath, pond, fountain or even something as simple as a shallow trough filled with water will give thirsty pollinators a much-needed place to drink. Adding plenty of partially-submerged stones to the water source can also help by giving bees and other pollinators a place to safely land while drinking without the risk of drowning.

See more: Companion Planting 101

4. Limit pesticide use

Pesticide poisoning is a major contributing factor to the decline of pollinator populations. It’s always best to rely on predatory insects like ladybugs and wasps to control pests in your garden when possible and look for natural alternatives when you can. If you must apply pesticides, do so wisely. Always apply pesticides according to the instructions and avoid spraying plants while they have flowers in bloom. Applying pesticides at night when bees and other pollinators are not active can also help reduce the risk of exposing them to poisons.

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5. Add aromatic herbs

Fresh herbs can do more than add flavor to your favorite dishes. Many pollinators are drawn to scents, so planting aromatic herbs in your garden such as lavender, basil, sage, rosemary, oregano and many others can be especially attractive to them. When you’re finished harvesting your herbs for the season, allowing them to flower can draw in even more pollinators.

See more: Herbs for Health: The Benefits Growing in Your Garden

6. Plant for year-round blooms

Incorporating a diverse range of flowering plants in your landscape will ensure you have something blooming in the yard during every season. A wide selection of flowering plants can also provide food for many different pollinator species attracted to specific types. If you notice a time of year when blooms are scarce in your yard, look for native plants that flower around that time to add.

See more: 12 Flower Varieties to Plant This Spring

7. Add more color

Different species of pollinators are attracted to different colors. Bees love yellow, purple and blue flowers, for example, while hummingbirds prefer bright red-colored flowers and butterflies like red, orange, purple or yellow flowers. Bees can even see in a spectrum of ultraviolet light, and some flowers like buttercups and black-eyed Susans have ultraviolet markings called “nectar guides.” Filling your yard or garden with a rainbow of colors and diverse bloom shapes will attract an array of pollinators to your plants.

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