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36 Comments
I didn't watch the video but I assume the advice is to not plant any venus fly traps or pitcher plants.
But what are example of what pollinators like? Is a Wasp a pollinators? They freak me out & seem to bump into me on purpose.
Creating a separate pollinator garden is great, but do you also incorporate the same flowers or others into your vegetable/fruit garden for better pollination & higher pollinator attraction. Many of our flowers help keep crop predators away from our edibles.
Ants are destroyers.
Like others have mentioned, as part of a pollinator garden, native plants are super important for pollinators– for hosting and food purposes. Also, when choosing plants, look for flowers that have a ring of petals around a central disk as well as flowers of different shapes– e.g. tublar, flat topped etc, and avoid double flowers which are usually hybridized and don't attract pollinators well. Also, try to get a variety of plants that bloom over different time periods, from Spring to late Fall and be cognizant of the soil and sun needs for each plant as well as their habit, particularlyif the plant spreads by rhizomes, which you may or may not want. (I learned the hard way.) There are many great pollinator plants, but some include: asters, coneflowers, milkweed, monarda, sunflowers, yarrow, hyssop, and zinnia. Google best pollinator plants for your area and lots of resources pop up.
I've already had a few butterflies visit my spring flowers!
Would providing housing for bees keep them from nesting in inconvenient places?
I use Alyssums, Lavender and Marigolds. Last year I bought a couple different flowers one to attracts bees the other for hummingbirds. I've never thought of a birdbath or water source in general. Thanks for that tip.
You should always try and plant native plants, Many bees can only use certain types of flowers like sunflowers, Goldenrod and asters.
P.s. yes, I'm going big for pollinators! Got rid of my lawn two years ago, and I'm adding variety every year!
Agree. I noticed the other day that carpenter bees love the flowers from blueberries while honey bees fly right by it to get the apple tree flowers. The carpenter bees didn't even bother with my apple tree
Visible from space? Challenge accepted.
Great advice, Luke! Especially the drinking source! One thing I would add is, if you can, let the wild things grow on your lot or the border. I am able to leave several areas 10×10 areas of native flowering plants/weeds and we have an abundance of pollinators. We just let things grow and mow down in the late fall. Natural is best and cheapest 🙂
Thank you, Luke! Any suggestions for the unusually hot white sun exposure and shading? Affordable shade clothe options?
Borage is wonderful for pollinators and the food source in the flowers replenishes itself within about 15 minutes. One of the fastest flowers to replenish the food for the pollinators
Plant more natives to your local area.. Little to no maintenance and they come back yrar after year. Lots of local birds that don't migrate will need the seed heads of your pollinator plants – please don't tidy up your garden too much – til mothers day. That way all those beneficial insects that OVER WINTERED on those leafs can get the time to weak up and fly away before you " spring clea" 😮
Bees love flowering russian sage, flowering thyme, flowering mint. I have literally 100s of bees of all size, feeding all summer.
Many plants are sold as great for bees and butterflies. But the reality is pollinators can be very selective and their preferences differ geographically. It is very important to do the reading and the research before getting out the shovel. A great way to start is to go to your small independent local nursery and see what the pollinators are attracted to…. Creating a resilient insectary is one of the biggest challenges I have take on but it has been one of the most rewarding here in Zone 6 New England…
One VERY important thing- make sure the flowering plants you buy from the store aren't sprayed with insecticide!! Unfortunately, many still are. You can try a thorough rinse with just water-or cut the flowers off-crazy as that may sound. If given the proper nutrients-especially phosphorus, the plant will soon produce more, pollinator safe blooms.
Love this – it goes well alongside my theory of making sure that your plants span the seasons – no good our pollinators bingeing in summer only to starve in the autumn (fall)!
Those garlic type plants that get the globes attract every pollinator . I couldn't believe all the different bees ,butterflies around them.
I take qtips if my plants dont look like they are getting pollination. Wipe each flower to the other. Use different qtip for other plants.
How does it help us if you don’t show which plants are protein and which are carb.? Less words and more practical info please. ❤
Thank you for the video. Did I miss you mentioning the flowers you would be planting in your pollinator garden? 🐝
Dont see monarchs or praying mantis anymore. Did have the creepy wasp that lays eggs in tomato caterpillar. Gross but those wasps took care of bugs that year. I use qtips for pollination if lacking natural.
Is it too late to start flowers from seed?
Great information
Another mistake is removing weeds, or plants most would consider weeds. Dandelions are often the first plant to flower in the spring and provide an early food source, not to mention the whole plant is edible. We also get carpets of purple deadnettle and creeping Charlie around here, wild mints that have plenty of flowers of their own, and which are also edible.
Later in the season, the white snakeroot blooms, which the bumblebees love, and which the deer leave alone because it's toxic.
Thanks I leaned a lot☺
California poppies blanket my backyard. I didnt think that this bright orange sea of native flowers are the lure that brings the pollinators in …where they will find fruit trees, vegetables are other flowers needing pollination.
Great information Luke ❤
I love your knowledge and how your channel has evolved over time! 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Great video…thanks
Something you didn’t talk about was how important it is to plant native species to feed the local pollinators and bees. Non-native flowers are very pretty but local pollinator insects may not even recognize them because they aren’t bred to be attractive to pollinator insects.
Ask your nursery if they use neonicotinoid pesticides so you can avoid toxic plants! Or better yet just grow from seed if you can.
Most of the flowering plants you mentioned are already done in deep south 9b. I'm planting zinnias like mad to compensate and hoping the buckeheat takes iff as a flowering cover crop. We also let our brassicas and herbs flower if possible after they're too bitter to eat.