If you spend much clock time on Pinterest or horticulture groups on Facebook , you ’ll see that it ’s become very “ voguish ” to plant a pollinator garden . I really dislike trend . The reason being that attracting butterfly , bee , hummingbird and other pollinators to your garden should not be a trend , because tendency come and go . Home gardener have been constitute pollinator friendly gardens for generations and now all the sudden it ’s the cool thing to do . I will get off of my soapbox now ! Although there ’s a little more to it than to but plant flowers , permit ’s have some playfulness and learn how to attract pollinator and other beneficial insects to your garden .

I agnise there are many mitigating factors as to why our pollinator universe are down , but this is not the stead to discuss that problem . One of our end at Gingham Gardens is to encourage home gardener to do their good in their little recession of the world .

PIN IT

Hummingbird Drinking From Lucifer Crocosmia

PIN IT

This mail contains affiliate link . If you click onone of the connexion   and make a purchase , I may receive a belittled mission at   no additional cost to you . Seefull revealing here .

Does A Garden Need To Be Organic To Attract Pollinators

Before we get to the playfulness part , let ’s just get this out of the path . If you need to draw pollinator and keep them healthy , do not expend pesticides in your gardens .

If you palpate that you have to utilize pesticide at least go with organic . Just know that organic pesticides are not discriminant about what they are defeat , so proceed with circumspection . And some of the home remedies that are touted as being organic are not organic in the least . I use a mixture of Dawn liquid ecstasy and piss to obliterate boxelder bugs . Does it solve , yes . Does it harm pollinator , no because I do n’t spray it near them . Is it constitutive , no .

A Healthy Garden for Pollinators

So to respond the question , does a garden need to be constituent to attract pollinators , I do n’t really eff . I consider for keep pollinators good for you , it ’s best not to apply pesticide . How about we just all do the best we can and get out it at that . We coverpest remediesin another post , but for now here are just a few practical style I do my estimable to appease away from pesticide :

Why Do We Want Pollinators in Our Gardens

Well , because we need them . I ’m not going to give a big ole science lesson , because science was my defective subject , and sex instruction was n’t far behind . Just kidding … sort of .   But the foresighted and light of it is , if we desire sure crop and flowering plants they demand to be cross-pollinate and we need the pollinators to do it . Make sense ? Thanks , I knew it would .

Bottom lineage , we want bees and other pollinator doing their thing in our vegetable garden and to pollinate fruit trees .

And , really , who does n’t require bees , butterfly and hummingbird in your garden . I realize bees have the voltage to sting human race , but they really do n’t want to . I can stand in the centre of one of my garden with bees bombilate all around and never get stung . My son always says I ’m one with nature . bee hum , butterflies fleet about and short bullet flutter by just add an element of happiness and placidity to gardens .

Bee on Victoria Blue Salvia in How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Simple Tips to Attract Bees, Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Garden

The best fashion to draw in pollinator to your gardens is to plant a variety of flower that are rich in pollen and nectar . Be certain to admit a succession of blush from early bound until later fall , the entire growing season .

What Are Native Plants and Why Do We Need Them To Attract Pollinators?

Nothing incorrect with hybridized flower , but because of the hybridization procedure , ambrosia and pollen are generally reduced in flowers that have been hybridized , so they are n’t quite as tasty and beneficial as aboriginal plants .

Pro Tip : Native anthesis plants are the best nutrient seed for pollinator .

What precisely are aboriginal plant ? According toWikipedia – “ aboriginal plants are plants indigenous to a impart area in geological time . This includes plants that have produce , occur naturally , or existed for many years in an area . ” If you ’re concerned in learning the science behind native flora just click the Wikipedia link .

Swallowtail butterfly on magenta-colored bee balm in How to Attract Pollinators to your Garden

I would advance you to do a few google searches for native species in your area . recollect , aboriginal species include both native animals , insects and plants . What are consider aboriginal industrial plant in some regions can be incursive species in other areas . you’re able to check with your state ’s Department of Natural Resources or your local cooperative reference .

Just do a picayune research on your own before you go plant life shopping and ask for “ native ” plants . Not all , but some aboriginal industrial plant are very fast-growing and will take over your gardens . Here ’s another keen post to help you understand plant .

The Best Flowers to Grow to Attract Pollinators

When I get going researching and looking through pictures , I ended up with a lean of over 50 bloom , both annual and perennials , covering spring through fall , that will attract bee , butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden . That ’s too many to lean here , so I made up a printable that you may find in theGardening Resources Librarythat include a list of those flowers according to what time of year they blossom and which pollinator they attract .   Many of the bloom on the list are native plants . Fill out the form below to gain entree to all our Free Gardening Printables , including the list of over 50 Flowers Pollinators Love .

Below are just some of the flowers that made the list .

Perennial Flowers That Butterflies Love:

Flowers Bees Love:

Flowers Hummingbirds Love:

What About Habitats For The Pollinators

Another great way to attract pollinators is to not have a pristine garden . I remember bee houses are another trend , but candidly , this slight bee houseis so stinkin ’ precious and I ’m going to get one . Other that purchase a household for your bees , here ’s what you’re able to do for bee and other pollinators to supply a welcoming place where they can hunker down and call home :

During dry summer months , if there are no pool around your pace , be indisputable to provide a urine source for pollinators . I love this littlebutterfly feed stationand I ’m going to use it for a little watering hole for the pollinators . Thispuddling pit for pollinatorsis precious too .   Keep the pee shallow for your little buggers so they do n’t drown .

How to Plant A Garden to Attract Pollinators

I would just encourage you not to even seek to draw pollinator if it ’s just a furore or course you retrieve would be fun to try .   horticulture assume time and workplace . It is n’t just a one time works some flush type of fun weekend project . I do n’t want you to end up with an eyesore patch of weeds that you repent planting .

Okay , so if I have n’t blab you out of it and you still need to produce a pollinator paradise , here are more articles that will aid you figure out how to go about it :

Flower Gardening 101Creating and Caring For A Low Maintenance Flower Garden

Swallowtail Butterfly on Coneflower - How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

We ’ve covered the most democratic pollinators – bees , butterflies and hummingbird , but there are other pollinator too . Other native pollinator include :

Are you a Beginner Gardener?

If this is your first horticulture experience , set off with a small area . With a little effort , you’re able to create a valuable habitat for pollinators and get to revel beautiful efflorescence . It ’s a profits - winnings situation !

Happy horticulture ,

Julie

Pollinators on New England Aster

PIN IT

p.s . Go ahead and find free to “ pin ” these pic . If you oscillate in the upper left - hand corner of the painting , you ’ll see the small Pinterest icon . Just cluck it and pin away . There are also pin to share at the bottom of the Sir Frederick Handley Page . Thanks a caboodle !

p.p.s I ’d love to have you trace me onPinterest . Lots of great gardening ideas and tons of gardener ’s heart confect .

pin to Share :

Monarch Butterfly on Meadow Blazingstar - How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Bee on Coneflower in How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Swallowtail butterfly on zinnia

Bees on allium flowers.

PIN IT

Swallowtail Butterfly on Trailing Verbena

Monarch butterfly on strawflower.

Image of a butterfly on a flower with text overlay - The Best Flowers and tips for attracting butterflies and other pollinators to your garden

Image of a butterfly on a flower with text overlay - how to attract butterflies to your garden