Set Pollinators Up for Success
One of the most wonderful sounds of summer is the hum of pollinators in our garden on a warm, sunny day. To ensure that hum doesn’t fade, here are a few ideas for creating and maintaining habitat for our native bees, butterflies and other pollinators all summer long.
Build a brush pile
Instead of dragging fallen branches to the curb for pick up, pile them in a discreet location in the backyard. This creates habitat for ground nesting bees. With the help of other beneficial insects, the pile will gradually decompose and turn into valuable compost for your garden.
Move some mulch
Mulch is a great way to conserve moisture during those hot, dry summer days. But keep a small area mulch-free so ground nesting bees can access the soil. Butterflies also enjoy a puddle on bare soil after a rainfall.
Pinch your perennials
Besides planting more pollinator-friendly wildflowers, you can increase the number of blooms on some plants you already have in your garden. New England Asters, Wild Bergamot and Joe Pye Weed are just a few of the late-summer/early-fall bloomers that can be trimmed in June to encourage a denser plant with more blooms.
Use your fingers or pruners to pinch or clip a third of the plant’s top growth, cutting just above a healthy set of leaves. Keep in mind this will delay bloom time by two or three weeks. Leave a few plants full to provide an overall longer flowering period. Stop pinching by July.