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Pollinators are very important for healthy environment. They move pollen from flower to flower fertilizing the plants, so they can make seeds or fruit. There are many insect pollinators, such as bees, flies, wasps, butterflies and beetles.
According to the University of Minnesota, 15% of bee species nest in hollow stems, holes in wood or cavities. Nearly 80% of bee species live in ground and the remaining 5% move into nest of others.
We should allow time for the cavity nesters to wake up and emerge from their winter quarters. Don’t be in a hurry to cut stems down and clean up debris. If you can’t wait, lay the stems down in a place where they won’t be disturbed. In a few weeks you can remove them. Another method is chop and drop. Cut foliage down and lay around the plant. This allows time for emergence and serves as mulch.
Some bees such as bumble bees and green sweat bees live in the ground. Try to leave some bare ground for them to live in.
As we are choosing plants for the garden this spring, consider ones with a long blooming season to attract a variety of pollinators. Choose flowers with flat, single blooms with bright colors. Try to avoid plants that have been grown with neonicotinoids as they are deadly for the pollinators. Sunflowers are a good choice. They come in all sizes from miniatures for containers to giants for the garden. They can be direct seeded.
Rudbeckias bloom all summer if they are dead headed. They vary in size and color. They can be slow to germinate, so it will be faster to start with plants.
Another favorite is the zinnia. Envy zinnia is a good choice due to their wide-open flower. They are 24” tall and 18” wide with lime green to yellow flowers. They can be direct seeded. There are many more pollinator plants, so check the plant labels and seed packets. Avoid using pesticides unless absolutely necessary. Create nesting and have a water source in the garden. Our environment can become healthier if we all do our part.
