Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden: Simple Steps for a More Productive Harvest

February 2023

Do you want to get the most out of your vegetable garden this season? You can work hard planting and watering the vegetables, but if you don't have pollinators, you won't be able to fully enjoy your harvest.

Pollinators are essential to a productive garden, as they help plants to produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Without pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects, your garden would struggle to grow. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to attract pollinators to your garden and ensure a more bountiful harvest.

Here are simple steps you can take to attract pollinators to your garden:

Choose plants that attract pollinators:

The first step in attracting pollinators to your garden is to choose plants that they find attractive. Native plants are particularly effective in attracting pollinators because they have evolved alongside the local wildlife. Some popular choices for pollinator-friendly plants include lavender, Ixora, and milkweed.

attract pollinators

Provide a Water Source:

Pollinators also need a source of water to survive, so be sure to provide a shallow water source like a bird bath or a small pond. You can also create a mud puddle by digging a shallow depression and filling it with soil and water. This will attract butterflies, which need minerals found in mud to survive.

Plant in Clumps:

Planting flowers in clumps rather than single plants can make it easier for pollinators to find them. This is because they are more likely to notice a cluster of flowers than a single flower. It also makes it easier for them to move from one flower to the next without wasting energy.

Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides:

Pesticides and herbicides can be harmful to pollinators, so it's best to avoid using them in your garden. Instead, use natural pest control methods like companion planting, crop rotation, and handpicking pests. You can also encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and praying mantises to make your garden their home.

Provide Shelter:

Pollinators need shelter to protect them from predators, extreme weather, and other dangers. You can provide shelter by creating a diverse landscape that includes trees, shrubs, and perennials. You can also create nesting sites for bees and butterflies by leaving areas of your garden undisturbed or by providing bee houses and butterfly boxes.

Attracting pollinators to your garden is a simple and effective way to ensure a more productive harvest. By choosing pollinator-friendly plants, providing a water source, planting in clumps, avoiding pesticides and herbicides, and providing shelter, you can create a garden that is not only beautiful but also sustainable and productive.