Pollinators may be our planet’s most ecologically and economically important group of animals. They are a crucial link to every terrestrial ecosystem in the world; and are responsible for the pollination and therefore the production of more than 1,200 different food crops. One of the biggest differences you can make in protecting our pollinators is what you do in your own landscape. The greatest threats to native pollinators are the use of pesticides and diminishing habitat. This summer make a commitment to making your landscape a safe space for pollinators.
- Plant native plants. Many native plants have evolved specifically to be pollinated by only specific species of pollinators like beetles or hummingbirds, and many pollinators, such as the Monarch butterfly, rely solely on native plants such as milkweed species.
- Incorporate plants, trees, and shrubs into your landscape with different bloom times, so that there is something blooming early spring through late fall.
- Leave stems, dead plant material, and leaves in your landscape until late spring, to provide nesting habitat for pollinators.
- Minimize or eliminate the use of herbicides and pesticides in your landscape. If you must use herbicides, always follow the directions on the container and never apply sprays in windy conditions or right before it rains.
Safer alternatives for herbicides and pesticides
Physical Controls
- Pick or wash harmful insects off plants
- Use fabric or fine mesh to protect plants from pests
- Hand pull weeds whenever possible, and before they set seed
- Use mulch as a way to prevent weeds
Non-Toxic Substances
- Limonene (herbicide alternative)
- Vinegar solution of 1 qt vinegar, ¼ cup salt, 2 tsp. dish soap (herbicide alternative)
- A ratio of 1:2 whole milk and water for powdery mildew prevention
- Garlic-based tick spray and MET-52 are alternatives to Pyrethroids (often used as bee or wasp killer)
- Apply corn gluten meal to turf grass in early spring and fall to prevent crabgrass and weed germination
- Trap unwanted flying insects with yellow sticky tape/cards
Biological Control (the ‘good guys’)
- Lady beetles feed on aphids
- Green lacewing larvae feed on mites and other insect eggs
- Nematodes control all types of beetle grubs, including Japanese and Asian beetles.