A pollinator garden is a lovely addition to any landscape. Not only are they just a beautiful space with lots of colour, but they are also the type of garden that supports the entire ecosystem. We as humans appreciate them but so do wild animals, butterflies, birds, bees, bats and hummingbirds.
The best pollinator gardens contain a mix of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs and even bulbs. They are most attractive to all of the little creatures if they show colour (bloom) from early spring until late fall. It is always best to do a bit of homework and try to incorporate native plants into this garden as they will be easily recognized by the little critters who live there. They will also get to know your other choices in the garden once they recognize the worth of visiting your outdoor spaces.
Many plants that we grow to eat need cross pollination. The best example of this is always the apple. In order for your apple tree to fruit it needs to be cross pollinated by another type of apple that is blooming at the same time close to each other. We are so lucky that now we can plant dwarf apple trees that are grafted onto a rootstock that causes the apple tree to stay smaller and thus be easier to maintain.
Plant a variety of flower types that will be sure to attract all the different types of pollinators. There are many species of bees that will love to come and visit as well as a variety of other insects both in the daylight hours and when it is dark. Moths are nocturnal butterflies that are most attracted to white blooms as they reflect the moonlight the best. When the hummingbirds come to visit, I always feel that it is a true sign of success.
We do not often think of how important pollinators are but they are vital to our food sources. Due to many factors, including loss of habitat, pollinator populations have experienced severe declines so it is even more important to plant pollinator gardens. Ideally, a space with lots of sunshine is the best for a pollinator garden as many of the little critters are extremely sensitive to cool temperatures. Thus in spring and fall, the sunny areas will warm up more quickly, but some shade during the hot summer temperatures is also a good idea.
Depending on how talented you are in the garden, the plants can be started by seed or purchased from your favourite garden centre as bedding plants. If growing from seed, choose packets that contain a single plant type rather than the entire garden in the packet. Unless you know your plants extremely well, planting a variety of plants will leave you guessing which are weeds and which are actually the plants you wish to grow. Prepare the soil in the area well by removing any perennial weeds and adding lots of organic matter to ensure you are providing a great home for your pollinator plants. Seeding directly or starting them indoors depends on what you are planting, your degree of patience and how much time you have for tending to your garden. It is sometimes easiest to start the seeds indoors, and bed them out after the last risk of frost. I like to plant areas of each type of plant so it looks both natural and is aesthetically attractive.
The best gardeners are those that take the time to learn everything about the plants that they are growing. If you learn about the plants, understand your soil and how the plants and soil interact you will definitely see the greatest levels of success. Perhaps review that last couple of garden columns that focused on soils to refresh your level of knowledge about how to build the best soil.
Watch next week for the second part to building a pollinator garden.
Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at ; by email at [email protected]; on Facebook @orchidhort and Instagram at #orchidhort.
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