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Pollinator Gardens

Basics of how to prepare and care for them

West Windsor Environmental Commission

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Why plant a native pollinator garden?

Pollinators are essential in plant reproduction

This group is in crisis across the globe

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Continued

Habitat loss, fragmentation (emergence of discontinuities in an organism’s environment), widespread use of chemical pesticides

Native pollinators are most sensitive to these pressures
They require specific plants to survive, threatened by habitat loss and invasive species

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Basics

Choose native plants to help pollinators
Know the components of a native pollinator garden
Do your research before you plant
Conduct a site analysis
Prepare the site
Lay out the garden, choose plants
Plant the natives

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1. Choose native plants to help native pollinators

Many plants used to support pollinators are either ineffective or may cause harm to native pollinators for several reasons:

May only support adult cycle -- provides nectar for mature pollinators, but no food for larvae of native species (i.e. butterfly bush)
May support insects that supplant local pollinator populations (which need very specific plants to grow and thrive)
Are grown using systemic pesticides or neonicotinoids (water soluble chemicals that kill or harm pollinators)

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2. Know the components of a native pollinator garden

Adult Food: diverse selection of native plants with “abundant pollen and nectar across growing season, planted in groups for easy foraging”
Baby Food: host plants for butterfly and moth larvae
Water: muddy spots where insects can access water and soil minerals + well-drained places for ground nesting (avoid standing water to remove mosquito breeding grounds)
Habitat: nesting materials and other protective habitats (hollow-stemmed plants, decaying wood, leaves, grasses, bare soil) to help support entire life cycle of threatened pollinators
Protection: only use plants grown in chemical-free environments, and spread awareness!

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3. Do your research before you plant

Location: consider which pollinators you are aiming this garden towards (basking in the sun vs. partial sun with protection)

Identifying soil type and sunlight: sandy + well-drained vs. clay-like + wet

Choosing plants: varieties of milkweed and wildflowers are native to your area and do well in your soil

Seeds vs. plants: using seeds or plants will depend on your timeline and budget

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4. Conduct a site analysis

Sunlight: Full sun (six or more hours per day), partial sun (three to six hours), shade (few hours of sunlight)

Look at timing as well (midday vs. evening) -- strength of sun

Soil: Test to determine characteristics -- composition, pH balance, nutrient levels

Do NOT try to amend soil with chemical fertilizers (releases harmful greenhouse gases): use only organic compounds

Moisture Levels, Wind Exposure

Wildlife: Consider pressures like deer + rodents (deer-repellent, pollinator-friendly plants)

Aesthetics: Put plants where they will complement your landscaping scheme

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5. Prepare the Site

Remove all sod + non-desired plants (especially invasive species)
Till soil to make it easier to work with
If necessary, add topsoil
Add 1”or 2” organic compost on top of existing soil

Select only fresh compost to ensure the microbes are still alive

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6. Lay out the garden and choose plants

Select variety of flowers that bloom throughout the season, plants that support larvae, and species with protective habits
Consider growing habits of plant selections
~1 plant per square foot

Dense planting → helps lock in moisture and reduce weeds

Select plants in smaller containers versus larger gallon sizes (more economical and easier to plant)

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Taller plants toward center (easier to reach)
Amass 4 to 5 plants together (pollinators can forage better)
Group moisture loving plants together to save water
Disperse color and bloom time throughout garden
Leave border margin of several inches for spread and mulch

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7. Plant the natives

Lay plants out according to design

Helps maintain even spacing, allows for last minute tweaks

Break up root system
Use trowel or hori-hori knife to dig hole deep enough for existing root system
Place plant in hole, fill with dirt → REPEAT FOR ALL
Water entire garden

Water wand is recommended for new plants, can be more delicate

Add layer of natural mulch (i.e. pine bark)

Avoid dyed mulch or that with big chunks, don’t mulch right up to the plant

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8. Care for pollinator garden

Water often during first year

Can buy rain gauge to help maintain recommended inch of water per week

Water smaller gardens by hand to keep an eye on weeds’ and plants’ progress
Weed by hand
In fall, leave seed heads and stalks to provide food and habitat for birds and overwintering insects

Can also add leaf mulch

Cut back in spring, add compost
Never use herbicides, insecticides, or chemical fertilizers

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