Pollinators are small creatures with a big impact. In fact, they are responsible for about one of every three bites of food we eat! Most of the flowering plants on earth–including the ones we depend upon for food–rely on bees, birds, butterflies, bats, and other animals in order to reproduce.
Unfortunately, many of these important species are threatened. In the United States, at least 28% of our native bumblebee species are in decline, and 19% of our butterflies are at risk of extinction. As habitat loss, diseases, climate change, and other issues continue to threaten pollinators and our own food sources, many homeowners have started working towards making their property more pollinator-friendly.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are a few common mistakes that can unintentionally drive away pollinators.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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To learn more about these mistakes and how to avoid them, we consulted the US Forest Service and the Xerces Society, a science-based conservation organization that works to protect the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.
And we didn’t just learn about mistakes; we’ll discuss solutions for these problems and positive action steps to take, as well.
Mistake 1: Focusing on Grass
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The biggest mistake you can make when trying to bring pollinators to your yard is prioritizing that “perfect” green lawn. From a pollinator’s point of view, that grassy expanse is basically a desert. There’s no food, no water, no shelter. It’s pretty much useless.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up all the grass in your yard. There are plenty of reasons you might want to keep some of your lawn grassy–the kids like running around there, or you just like the look of it. That’s ok! Creating a pollinator-friendly yard doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. But you do want to have some flowering plants in the mix (more on that later).
Mistake 2: Only Thinking about Honey Bees
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Save the honey bee! It’s a common call as the plight of the honey bee has garnered a lot of attention, especially as honey bee colonies have been facing major losses. But honeybees are only part of the story.
The Xerces Society shares that there are many other bee species that need support, especially native bee species. The honey bees found in North America aren’t actually native to this continent; they’re native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. And in areas where food for bees is scarce, honey bees can actually out-compete native bee species, and drive their population down. Many of these native bee species are threatened and face the real possibility of extinction.
This doesn’t mean we should write off honey bees in favor of native bees. But before you’re tempted to build your own backyard honey bee hive, consider creating a backyard habitat that supports all bee species, instead. And don’t forget about non-bee pollinators, like birds, bats, and butterflies!
Mistake 3: Using Insecticides
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Your backyard veggie patch has been invaded, and all your hard-won tomatoes are being destroyed by bugs! Something has been munching on the tender leaves of your favorite flower in your garden bed. It’s tempting to reach for pesticides as a quick fix to protect your plants from these pests, but the Xerces Society warns that insecticides can cause major damage, especially to pollinators.
Insecticides don’t discriminate between insects, including the beneficial insects that you want to keep around. So when you use insecticides to kill problematic insects, you’ll almost certainly kill your beneficial insects as well. And often the bugs we’ve declared are “pests” aren’t our enemies after all. That big green caterpillar that’s devouring the leaves on your parsley plant? That crawling critter is on its way to becoming a beautiful moth or butterfly–the very critter you’ve been trying to attract to your garden!
Mistake 4: Using Herbicides
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Weed-killing chemicals, called herbicides, are also bad news for our pollinators. According to the Xerces Society, sometimes those flowering weeds you’ve turned to herbicides to eliminate are actually important food sources for pollinators. And even though herbicides aren’t intended to kill bugs, herbicides are still harmful if they come into contact with pollinators–either by being sprayed directly on the bugs, or picked up by the bugs later when they crawl around on herbicide-treated plants.
So, what to do instead? There are lots of pesticide-free ways to manage unwanted weeds, bugs, and other pests.
Mistake 5: Not Providing Water
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A good pollinator habitat should provide more than just food–pollinators need water as well. Water sources provide everything from water to drink (of course) to habitat for insects like dragonflies to lay their eggs in.
You don’t have to spring for an expensive birdbath or fancy outdoor fountain feature. In nature, even a puddle will do the trick. But if you’re not looking to maintain a mud bath in your front yard–or maybe you only have a porch or patio to work with–you can simply set out a bowl of water with some rocks in it (although you may want to change out the water regularly to avoid mosquitoes). Add a little dirt to attract butterflies (they love the minerals)!
Mistake 6: Not Planting Native
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Native pollinators and native plants are the soulmates of the natural world–they’re just meant for each other. Because these plants and animals coevolved together, they meet each other’s needs in very specific ways. For example, the Xerces Society explains that some flowers benefit from “buzz pollination,” in which a bee grasps the flower and shakes the pollen loose. Native bumblebees are great at this. Non-native honey bees? Not so much.
Native plants also provide shelter by acting as host plants for caterpillars, and even providing nesting materials for above-ground nesting bees.
An added benefit for us humans, native plants are naturally adapted to thrive in their environment. That means you don’t have to worry about amending the soil or making sure they get just the right amount of water. Native plants are just happy to be here.
The Xerces Society also offers handy plant lists for regions across the US, so you can be sure you’re picking the right plants for the pollinators in your area.
Mistake 7: Not Planting Enough Variety
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Think about a wildflower meadow. You don’t just see one kind of flower blooming, right?
Pollinators need a variety of plants to really thrive. For example, making sure you have a diversity of plants ensures flowers are blooming throughout the year, so pollinators have access to food and shelter in every season. And don’t sleep on night-blooming plants; they’ll support moths and bats.
Mistake 8: Only Planting Single Plants
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While plant variety is important (as we just discussed), you don’t want to get so carried away with planting a variety of plants that you only have one of each species.
Pollinators can find blooms more easily when they are planted in clumps together. It’s all about balance.
Mistake 9: Giving Up Because Your Yard is Too Small
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Sure, it would be great if you could turn a multi-acre yard into a pollinator meadow, but pollinators will benefit most when everyone, even if they have small yards or no yards at all, finds a way to provide some food and shelter.
Even plants in containers on your balcony are a good step in the right direction. Homegrown National Park offers lists of native pollinator-friendly plants that are great for container gardening. Or, if you do have a bit more yard space to offer up, a 10×10 plot (or any size that comes out to 100 square feet) is enough to create an official Monarch Waystation.
Mistake 10: Forgetting about Trees
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Plants and flowers get a lot of attention in the pollinator garden, but you don’t want to forget about the important role trees have to play for our pollinator friends. Trees like dogwoods and redbuds are among the earliest to bloom in the spring, providing food before many other flowers have even started to bud.
Trees also provide valuable nesting sites, especially if you’re willing to leave a dead tree or limb on your property for bees to nest in. (If not, or if it’s too much of a safety hazard, you can always make a bee condo instead.)
Mistake 11: Pulling Up Dried Plants in the Fall
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Even when the blossoms on your native flowers have faded at the end of the growing season, these plants still serve an important purpose for pollinators. Those hollow stems provide the perfect shelter for solitary native bees to nest in over the winter.
In the spring, you can cut back the dead stems to varying heights, which leaves the hollow stems open for female bees to lay their eggs. As the season progresses, new growth will hide the stubble, and a new generation of bees will emerge from your very own bee nursery.
What’s the Perfect Pollinator Habitat?
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Ultimately, it’s the one you can offer! You don’t have to destroy every inch of grass in your yard, pull up every plant that isn’t native, or hit the exact right combination of flowers and trees, and water sources.
Pollinators don’t need a few people creating the perfect habitat. They need lots and lots of people to create habitats, even imperfect ones. So don’t worry too much about making some mistakes here and there. Every step you take in the right direction makes the world just a little better for our pollinators, and for us.
Read more
Easy-to-Grow Native Wildflowers That Will Attract Pollinators to Your Garden
Why Your Garden Needs Bees and Butterflies—And How to Help Them Thrive
