Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Start your pollinator garden
- Include flowers with attractive color patterns and aromas
- Provide season-long sources of pollen and nectar
- Aim for year-round flowers, including early and late season bloom to provide a food source
- Include at least three species in bloom in spring, summer, and fall
- Plant single species together to increase visibility to pollinators and increase foraging efficiency
- Include a diversity of flower shapes to attract many different pollinators
- Choose plants known to be friendly to pollinators/Use resources on native plants and pollinator plants/ Avoid invasive and poisonous plants to help protect your environment
- Use locally native plants to support more abundant species-rich bee communities (trees, perennials, and annuals/ Buy seeds and/or plants from reputable sources
- Use garden planting to connect fragmented habits
- Create habitat close to crops and gardens
- Focus on floral abundance and diversity
- Include host plants for butterflies and moths
- Invite beneficial insects to help manage pests/Learn to recognize good bugs and stages in metamorphosis
- Limit pesticide use in the landscape/Be smart about pesticide decisions
- Use an integrated approach against pests
- Develop a tolerance for weeds to reduce herbicide use
- Tolerate some plant damage
- Include a source of water and protection from wind to promote garden diversity
- Develop new nest habitat for bumble bees and other pollinators: ground nests, tunnel nests, wood nesting habitat
- Leave or create spaces where bugs can find shelter to overwinter and nest
- Provide for specific needs of the pollinators you want to attract such as including puddles and rotting fruit for butterflies and hummingbird feeders
- Certify/register you garden at S.H.A.R.E or other places sponsoring pollinator gardens.