Support Pollinators Beyond Summer!

Spring and summer are peak pollinator seasons; however, our efforts should continue all year to support pollinators. We can do this by gardening with pollinators in mind, avoiding invasive plants, and by maintaining natural habitat in our yards and parks.

Consider how and what you are planting; avoid overshadowing blooms.

Plant Pollinators to Fill in Your Garden

There are various ways to plant for pollinators, including using native seed mixes or cultivating gardens designed for pollinators or scattering flower seeds where they will germinate. The goal should be to provide pollinators with food, shelter, and water they require in order to thrive from early spring through late fall. Aim to provide pollinators with variety in flower colors and bloom types so they have access to food sources they need.

As most pollinator plants require full sun, your first step should be selecting a sunny spot in your garden. If your garden is shaded however, don’t despair as there are still ways you can support pollinators populations by selecting shrubs and perennials suitable to the conditions in your space; such as shade-loving species such as Heuchera (Coreopsis) or Joe Pye Weed which thrive under these circumstances or full or part sun bloomers such as white wood aster or zigzag goldenrod which perform well under similar conditions.

Addition of native trees and shrubs is another crucial way of supporting pollinators populations in your yard. Native species provide resources like nectar and pollen that herbaceous perennial flowers don’t, while also offering shaded refuge for bees that overwinter in leaf litter or tree trunks.

Do not forget to provide water sources for butterflies and bees! Shallow dishes or birdbaths containing fresh, clean water is vital in supporting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, with added rocks, pebbles or twigs as landing pads for pollinators to land upon. Make sure to change out the water regularly to maintain optimal conditions for these beneficial pollinators!

Staggered Bloomers

Flowers and herbs that bloom throughout the summer provide pollinators with a continuous source of food, making your garden full of color from early, mid, and late bloomers. Planting a mixture ensures you have an array of bloomers in bloom throughout your garden’s summertime splendor!

Consider your climate when selecting plants. In the Pacific Northwest, where we experience mild summers with cool nights, heat-loving crops such as tomatoes and zucchini can be planted during spring sowing season without worry; but in other areas this might not be feasible and sowing during other times might be more appropriate; thus requiring subtractions or additions from heat lover lists or adding cooler-temperature loving species into consideration.

When creating a pollinator garden, it’s essential that native species native to your region be chosen – they have been proven to attract pollinators four times more effectively than non-native varieties! Our regional native plant lists can assist with finding plants appropriate for your area.

As part of your garden planning strategy, selecting plants of similar sizes is recommended for creating an aesthetically pleasing garden space. Planting short (3-4ft or less) plants between taller ones helps define edges while making viewing simpler for everyone.

Flowers that bloom at different times will bring beauty and functionality to any garden, while staggered flowering plants help manage pests and diseases in it. If your squash vine borer attacks are taking their toll, staggered planting could save the crop! And with cucumbers, bush beans, and summer squash being particularly susceptible, staggering planting by one week at a time gives another opportunity for harvest when the first one was destroyed by pests or disease.

Spring Through Summer

As part of your spring and summer gardening plan, plant flowers that bloom throughout the growing season, providing pollen and nectar for pollinators such as bees. This will give these creatures a food source to get through Maryland’s long summer days!

Include a variety of colors, heights and species to attract a broad spectrum of pollinators. Select native plants from our region (check our regional list for pollinator-friendly plants) when choosing species – for instance mountain, piedmont plateau and coastal plain areas may require different considerations when making decisions about which to grow.

Some plants that will provide abundant color, pollen and nectar for butterflies, bees and other pollinators in early summer are:

Native dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – Don’t dismiss dandelions as pesky weeds; instead consider them an essential early spring flower that provides pollen for other flowers before their debut. Their long roots also help break up and loosen soil quality for improved results.

Early season tulips, daffodils and hyacinths offer abundant pollen to bees, butterflies, flies and moths – also look out for wild columbine, lupine and Joe Pye weed!

Sunflowers provide an invaluable pollen source during mid to late summer and come in various colors, sizes and forms – make sure that when selecting varieties as “bee-friendly”, such as the Early sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) or St John’s Wort (Hypericum species).

If you want to add even more flowers into the garden this year, try our Pocket Pollinator Garden seed mix, featuring both perennial and annual species that will bloom over their first winter and then fade, giving way to slower-growing native perennials in their third year of growth.

Summer Through Fall

Pollinators require a steady source of pollen and nectar throughout the year. One way to ensure they receive this essential nourishment is through planting flowers with long bloom times such as asters, sunflowers, wild indigo, phlox, foxglove beardtongue lobelias geraniums. Native asters sunflowers wild indigo phlox foxglove beardtongue lobelias and geranium provide yellow, white blue red blooms from April until October while native grasses like bluestem and broomsedge add height texture while shrubs like pinxter Azalea Black Raspberry Purple Node Joe Pye Weed American Holly provide color, form and structure long into fall whereas native apple, Huckleberry persimmon and Pawpaw provide fruitful colors and nourishment throughout winter.

Dahlias and zinnias provide warm hues until frost. Perennials such as goldenrod, roses, and saffron crocus also rebloom in fall; goldenrod roses and saffron crocus bloom beautifully as do New England cranberry, American holly and persimmon trees with beautiful native fruits such as persimmon. Additionally, woody plants such as blazing star, New York ironweed and spotted beebalm produce stunning autumn hues while providing food sources for birds and wildlife alike.

Add native annuals and perennials to your garden to provide pollinators with food all season long, from spring through fall. Since these seeds can be very small, we recommend mixing them with carriers such as rice hulls or clean playground sand to help spread them more evenly across your garden bed – our Pocket Pollinator Garden mix can be ideal here. Additionally, planting them about six weeks before your region’s first hard freeze (find your zone here) ensures the seeds have time to establish before temperatures and moisture levels drop allowing them to survive winter and return come spring time!

Fall Bloomers

Provide pollinators with food and habitat throughout the year is key to the health of any garden. Fall perennials offer an excellent way to extend blooming seasons and add interest even after summer has ended.

These same flowers that draw bees and butterflies to them in summer also attract hummingbirds and other migrating birds. Pollinators rely on certain traits from pollenated flowers, including color, shape and fragrance; for instance hummingbirds prefer nectar from tubular-shaped blooms with narrow openings for their long beaks to reach nectar sources while bees prefer those which open and close rapidly so that they have quick access to sweet liquid.

Perennials like Astilbe, Heuchera and Sage are late-season bloomers that work great in cottage-style gardens, mixed borders or meadow landscapes. Another reliable option is blanket flower (Anemone x hybrida), an easy-to-grow perennial featuring daisy-like blooms in warm hues of orange, yellow, pink and coral that make an excellent addition to dry, sunny spots in gardens as well as along waterwise strips or meadow landscapes.

Add an autumn flourish with pitcher sage (Salvia azurea). Deer-resistant and drought-tolerant native, it makes an attractive accent in cottage gardens, wildflower meadows or mixed borders.

if you want to make an impactful statement this year, why not transform part of your lawn into a pollinator garden? Lawns require plenty of care – from mowing and fertilizing, treating for insects and disease, watering during droughts and aerating, to the time and money it takes for maintenance purposes. Instead, install an attractive native garden that provides pollinators with food and shelter throughout the year!