7 Things You Can Do for Pollinators

1. PLANT FOR POLLINATORS

  • Habitat opportunities abound on every landscape – from window boxes to acres of farms to corporate campuses to utility and roadside corridors – every site can be habitat.
  • Utilize plants native to your area (or at the least, non-invasive for your area).
  • Utilize the BeeSmart Pollinator Gardener App or the Ecoregional Planting Guides. Decide among the plant material options - seeds, plugs, plants or a combination.
  • Know your soil type and select appropriate plant material.
  • Plant in clusters to create a "target' for pollinators to find.
  • Plant for continuous bloom throughout the growing season from spring to fall.
  • Select a site that is removed from wind, has at least partial sun, and can provide water.
  • Allow material from dead branches and logs remain as nesting sites; reduce mulch to allow patches of bare ground for ground-nesting bees to utilize; consider installing wood nesting blocks for wood-nesting natives.


2. REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES.


3. REGISTER AS A SHARE SITE

  • Available for every landscape – this free registry is utilized through as little information as a zip code.
  • Upload photos or videos of your pollinator site
  • Include your company or organizational logo
  • Be counted as part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challengewhen you register
  • This registry will show profiles of the plants used in various gardens, allow us to measure pollinator progress, and highlight areas of activity and places in need of pollinator action


4. REACH OUT TO OTHERS – INFORM AND INSPIRE

  • Utilize all the materials available to help you tell the story of pollinators
  • Especially during National Pollinator Week (June 17-23, 2019)
  • Tell local and state government officials that you care about pollinator health


5. SUPPORT LOCAL BEES AND BEEKEEPERS.

  • Buying local honey supports the beekeepers in your area
  • If you're concerned about the number of chemicals use in agriculture, buy organic.
  • If you're concerned about contributions to global carbon emissions, buy local.


6. CONSERVE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES; USE LESS AND REDUCE YOUR IMPACT.

  • Pollinators are dramatically affected by extremes in weather
  • Climate change puts pressure on native ranges and overwintering sites.


7. SUPPORT THE WORK OF GROUPS PROMOTING SCIENCE BASED, PRACTICAL EFFORTS FOR POLLINATORS. DONATE NOW.