9 SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP OUR POLLINATORS

Thankfully there is a buzz happening about how we all must help our crucial pollinators to flourish and survive including bees, butterflies and birds. However, although you may be onboard, perhaps you wonder what you can do. I have listed below a few ideas to get you started. Pick one and start there. Every little action helps and, as I always preach, a lot of little changes by a lot of people equals huge impact.

1. Don't spray pesticides including hiring mosquito or tick spraying companies.

2. Plant pollen and nectar producing trees, shrubs and perennials that pollinators love (or what I call pollinator powerhouse plants) such as Oaks, Willows, Buttonbush, Winterberry, Clethra, Joe Pye Weed, Coneflowers and Goldenrod.

3. Plant butterfly host plants such as Milkweed, Dill, Willows and Asters. Butterflies lay their eggs on host plants for the caterpillars to eat and, like Monarchs and Milkweed, are sometimes the only plant the adult butterfly will lay their eggs on.

4. In the summer, plant annuals to support pollinators. See the following blog post for some great choices:

18 BEST FULL SUN ANNUALS FOR BEES AND OTHER POLLINATORS.

5. Turn a part of your lawn into a pollinator garden. Grass is basically a pollinator dead zone so if you can, make more planting beds filled with pollinator friendly plants.

6. Most bees do not form hives but rather nest in brush and dead wood. Therefore, don't be so quick to clean up downed wood and have a brush pile if possible.

7. Many bees are ground nesters and need well drained, bare soil to build their burrows so leave some areas of bare ground in your yard.

8. Design your garden to support and attract birds. See the following for ideas.

5 WAYS TO ATTRACT BIRDS TO YOUR YARD WITHOUT USING BIRD FEEDERS

9 BERRY SHRUBS TO ATTRACT BIRDS TO YOUR GARDEN

9. Support local honey producers by purchasing their products. We want to help beekeepers stay in business.