I have an employer that does many wonderful things. One of the projects my employer has tackled has been a series of pollinator gardens. I’ve been working to support and promote this project, so pollinators have been very much on my mind lately.
You probably know that pollinators are suffering worrisome declines. This isn’t just true for honeybees, but also bumblebees and other native bees, butterflies, and other insects, as well as pollinating birds and mammals.
If you have a yard, you can help fight pollinator declines through your landscaping choices.
You probably know that you can help pollinators through what you choose to plant. Some pollinators have very specific needs, such as monarch butterflies, which require native milkweed to successfully reproduce. While you may choose to research plants that appeal to a particular pollinator, the best thing you can do for pollinators in general is to choose plants that are native to your area. If you do nothing else, consider pollinators when you choose plants for your yard.
Pollinators don’t just need food; they need water. This is easy to provide through features like birdbaths or small ponds.
You also can help pollinators through providing natural and artificial shelters. Don’t keep a pristine yard; leave stumps, brush piles, and bare earth for pollinator nesting sites. You can also create nesting sites that are attractive to native bees.
In addition to providing pollinators with food, water, and shelter, you can support them by avoiding neonicotinoid pesticides. Not only should you check the labels of any pesticides you buy, you should also ask nurseries from which you buy plants if the plants are treated with neonicotinoids — a surprising number are, even if the plants are designated as pollinator-friendly.
Of course, you can choose to do more, such as supporting further research into pollinator declines or working to reduce or even ban the use of neonicotinoids. But if you’re a homeowner who wants to make a difference for pollinators, the best place to start is in your own backyard.