Planting for Pollinators: A Garden that Gives Back
If you’re looking for a garden that’s not only beautiful but meaningful, planting for pollinators is the way to go. Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, hummingbirds—they all play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy and our food system functioning. And the good news? Supporting them is as simple as putting the right plants in the ground.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you. Whether you’re tucking in a few blooms or transforming your whole yard, every step you take makes a difference. One great way to get started is with a pollinator pocket garden—a small but mighty patch designed specifically for pollinators.
Ready to go big? Read on.
How to Get Started
Creating a pollinator-friendly garden doesn’t have to be complicated or wild-looking (unless you want it to be!). Start by adding flowering trees, grasses, perennials, and even annuals that pollinators love. The key is variety—different shapes, sizes, and bloom times offer food and habitat for a wide range of species.
To really level up your garden:
- Plan for blooms from early spring through fall. That might mean early bulbs and spring trees, followed by summer perennials and fall asters or goldenrod.
- Don’t rush to clean up. Many pollinators overwinter in the stems of perennials or in native grasses. If you can, wait until temps are consistently above 50°F before cutting back in spring. The Xerces Society has a great guide on what to cut back—and when to protect pollinators.
- Think layers. Shrubs, trees, groundcovers—all of them can provide shelter and food at different stages of a pollinator’s life.
Even just these steps will create a garden buzzing with life. But if you want to make the biggest impact? Go native.
Want to Be Even More Epic? Choose Native Plants
All of the strategies we mentioned above become even more powerful when you use native plants. Why? Because native plants are what native pollinators evolved with—they recognize them, rely on them, and thrive because of them.
When you choose native plants, you’re:
- Providing better nutrition for specialist pollinators (like native bees who only feed on certain plants)
- Supporting habitat continuity for pollinators that have declining populations
- Helping restore biodiversity in your own backyard
- Creating a low-maintenance garden that’s better adapted to our climate and soils
- Reducing the need for fertilizers and water
- Supporting plants grown without neonicotinoids—an added win for pollinator safety
We’ve written more about the benefits of native plants on our blog right here. And if you’re shopping with us in spring, you’re in luck—we’ve got our largest native plant selection ever in stock.
