Skip to main content

Here’s how to create your own pollinator garden

black eyed Susans and coneflowers in a garden

Our pollinators need a break. Consider the monarch butterfly or honey bee, or any of our more than 3,600 lesser-known bee species, hundreds of native butterflies, and hummingbirds. They convert flowers into fruits, grains, nuts, and seeds, including those of more than 150 different North American food crops. But they face mounting pressure due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Pollinator gardening reduces that pressure.

What is a pollinator garden?

A pollinator garden is a safe haven for bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other creatures that carry pollen. It might be as simple as a large container garden on a balcony, planted with a variety of pollen and nectar bearing flowers. Or it could encompass many acres, with host plants that support various stages of life, a progression of flowers throughout the year, and a source of water. Typically it’s any convenient backyard space that needs a bit of attention.

Most gardeners have enjoyed watching butterflies or hummingbirds as they move methodically through the landscape. By following these tips, creating a dynamic landscape that attracts and supports native pollinators may be easier than you think.

flower garden on a sloped landscape
Kathryn Roach/Shutterstock

How to create a new pollinator garden

Analyze the site

Bear in mind that a pollinator garden is an informal space that may not mesh with some landscaping. Choose a location where the aesthetics will flow naturally. Also, avoid sites where insecticides are regularly required.

While virtually any available space can support pollinators, the growing conditions determine which plants will grow there. Measure and sketch the site for planning purposes. Note how much sunlight it receives during the growing season. If it’s sunny, is it baking hot afternoon sun or early sun and afternoon shade? Also note the soil condition and whether the ground is typically moist or high and dry.

A few concerns to watch out for are the prevailing winds and presence of deer, rabbits, and potential damaging wildlife. If the site is very windy, you may need to incorporate a screen planting into the plan for protection. Plan to protect young plants from herbivores with fence, netting, or tree wraps.

Create a plan to support all life stages

A well-planned pollinator garden should include the full range of resources that pollinators need to survive: food, water, shelter, and security. Include a feature such as a bird bath, garden pond, or small fountain in your garden for a consistent supply of water. Limit mowing and trimming in the area, leaving the extra foliage for cover. Hand pull weeds as needed to reduce plant competition.

Although ornamental flowers like zinnias produce some of the resources that pollinators need, use them sparingly. Instead, choose a diverse range of native plants the insects and birds in your area recognize and need. Remember to include host plants for butterfly caterpillars to feed upon. Don’t use plants that have been treated with insecticides.

Use your site sketch and plant list to create a garden plan. Include pathways, water features, and plant positions. Use the following tips to guide plant layout.

  • Pollinators need pollen and nectar throughout the growing season. Include plants with early-, mid-, and late-season flowers.
  • Spread bloomers from each season throughout the garden for constant garden-wide interest.
  • Plant in masses of five to seven of the same plant to make it easier for pollinators to forage. Repeat multiple masses of the same plant through the garden.
  • Garden design principles incorporate variation in height, color, form, and texture. As you decide on which plants to grow, consider how you will organize them into complimentary groupings.
  • Plants that will grow taller should be at the rear or center. Low plants should be nearest the edges.
  • Plan for one plant per square foot to ensure a full garden that will compete well against weeds.

perennial flower bed beside a brick wall

Prepare the garden site

Use an old garden hose and landscape-marking paint to mark the locations and shapes of planting beds. Then remove grass and weeds from the beds before adding a 3-inch layer of compost. Work the compost into the upper 3 inches of native soil with a rototiller or digging fork. Rake the surface smooth and cover the beds with 2 to 3 inches of mulch. Install any water features and hardscaping before planting.

Plant your pollinator plants

Position the plants, still in their containers, on the planting beds according to your plan. Start at the rear or center and work outward. Leave a buffer of 8 to 12 inches between the outer plant pots and the bed border. The buffer will account for foliage growth so that plants do not encroach on the pathway. When all plants are in place, review the layout and make any adjustments before planting.

Pull back the mulch before planting each plant, and recover the roots when finished. Water the bed thoroughly. If the garden is near your property border, consider installing signs that say “Pollinator Habitat: Do Not Spray.”

Maintaining your pollinator garden

A pollinator garden is a habitat that seeks to imitate nature. It’s a low maintenance project, but will require some upkeep to become well established and to eliminate non-pollinator-friendly weeds.

In the initial weeks after planting, water the garden well. Begin with daily watering for the first week, then reduce it to 3 times in the second week. Starting with the third week, and continuing through the first summer, check the garden weekly and water as needed.

You may be tempted to remove spent flowers, but try to avoid doing so. Let the plants reseed themselves in the fall and leave the dried stems in place until spring. They’ll provide winter cover for solitary bees and other non-migratory pollinators. When the new growth emerges in spring, cutback the prior year’s dead stems.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Wolfe
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Mark Wolfe is a freelance writer who specializes in garden, landscaping, and home improvement. After two decades in the…
Your complete guide to planting and growing beautiful irises this summer
Everything you need to know about selecting and maintaining irises
Purple iris flowers

Irises are vibrant summer flowers that gardeners love for their perennial nature and rich colors. In addition to brightening up borders from spring to midsummer, they're incredibly hardy and can thrive even when you inadvertently neglect them. That said, understanding how to grow them will ensure the most prolific blooms, so that's why we've compiled this handy iris care guide for your reference.
What are irises?
Typically hardy in climate zones 3 to 9, irises belong to a diverse flowering plant genus with 200 to 300 species. The sword-like leaves come in fanned arrangements, and the stems can grow up to anywhere from 1 to 4 feet tall. The showy, lightly fragrant flowers come in everything from solid to bicolor varieties in every hue imaginable, although most traditional colors are blues and purples.

If you're shopping around for irises, common options include bearded irises, Siberian irises, and crested irises.

Read more
How to plant garlic: A versatile vegetable with a ton of uses
A guide to planting garlic and using it in many different ways
Three garlic bulbs with some garlic cloves next to them

Garlic, with its distinctive flavor and aroma, is a versatile vegetable that adds depth and complexity to a wide range of delicious meals. But did you know that garlic is not only a culinary delight but also offers numerous health benefits and has various household uses? Let's explore how to plant garlic, the many culinary and health benefits it offers, as well as its household and medicinal uses.
How to plant garlic to ensure a plentiful harvest
Before you can use and enjoy those flavorful bulbs, you need to first understand how to properly plant them. Follow these steps to ensure a successful garlic harvest!
Selecting the right garlic variety
When it comes to choosing the right garlic variety, you have several options to consider:

For example, softneck garlic varieties, such as "Silverskin" and "Artichoke," are commonly found in grocery stores and have a milder flavor. Hardneck garlic varieties, on the other hand, including "Rocambole" and "Porcelain," offer a stronger taste and are better suited for colder climates.

Read more
If you’re in need of a durable flowering shrub, then consider growing pittosporum! Here’s your care guide
How to plant and take care of pittosporum
Pittosporum shrub with variegated leaves and white flowers

Shrubs can offer many benefits to your garden. Whether you’re growing them as an ornamental addition for their beautiful flowers or looking to grow a privacy hedge, shrubs provide a wide array of options. If your garden is in need of a durable shrub with beautiful flowers, then pittosporum, also called cheesewood, is a great place to start.

Commonly found throughout Asia, Australia, and some parts of Africa, pittosporum is becoming more popular in American gardens. This simple care guide can help you successfully add it to your garden as well!
Planting pittosporum
If you’re planting your pittosporum from seed, you should plant it in the fall. However, older plants see better success when transplanted in the spring. Regardless of when you’re planting it, you should plant pittosporum in full sun to partial shade. Some varieties of cheesewood can even tolerate full shade, so don’t despair if you have a heavily shaded garden.

Read more