Green Your Everyday
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Turn your yard into a pollinator oasis

by: LolliG

When I moved to Alberta several years ago, I was eager to attract pollinators to my new yard. My hopes of creating a haven for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators faded when I lost some plants and others didn’t attract pollinators like I’d hoped. I needed to go back to the drawing board.

Pollinators are the beneficial critters and insects in your garden that do a lot of work for you. Without pollinators, everything from pumpkins to sunflowers would not produce the fruits and vegetables we enjoy. On average, pollinators provide one out of every three bites of food we eat. Pollination occurs when species such as birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, or beetles, along with water or the wind carry pollen from flower to flower, allowing plants to reproduce. Some pollinators, such as our native bee species, are endangered. Supporting pollinators in your garden seems easy, they simply need food, fresh water, and shelter, but getting the details right is critical. 

When planning a pollinator garden, be sure to select plants that will grow locally and that support bees or other pollinators. Remember that the plants you grow will need regular maintenance and upkeep, such as pruning, watering, and weeding. Be sure to choose plants that fit your schedule so that you can meet their needs. Some plants can be demanding, difficult to control, better in containers, or may need to be lifted and stored for the winter, or moved indoors. A local nursery can help you make choices that will work for your garden. Drought tolerant, native plants should be your top pick, as once they’re established, they require less water, allowing you to enjoy more time in your yard.

In the spring, consider participating in no-mow May as a way of ensuring pollinators can access dandelions and other early-blooming plants. While we may think of them as weeds, dandelions are one of the few flowers that bloom early enough to feed pollinators before gardens come into bloom. In addition, the longer grass provides important habitat.

Besides food for pollinators, fresh water is crucial for drinking, and for cooling down on extremely hot days. Providing a safe, shallow, container for fresh water is beneficial for the pollinators and your yard. Find and fill a shallow dish, or container, with soil, or sand, add a few flat rocks to provide perching spots and safe exits. You can also consider creating steps, rock islands, or tossing in a few petals and leaves, as floating islands for resting places. Place it in a safe area from predators and check on it regularly. 

Pollinators also require shelter as a place of rest, shade, predator protection, habitat, nest, or overwintering. The primary habitat features used by pollinators and other insects for shelter, include stems and branches, rocks, undisturbed ground, bare ground, dead wood and leaves, or handmade housing. Leaving your garden clean up until spring can provide pollinators with a shelter where they can overwinter. Adding mulch to your garden can also provide shelter, as well as maintaining moisture in the soil for the plants. Mulch is a great low-maintenance solution to support pollinators in your yard. 

With a little work and the right plants, you can create a pollinator oasis of your own.