(by Diane De Luca)

Step One: Choosing the Right Location

Creating a pollinator garden is one of the best ways to support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects. The first step? Choosing the right location!

Step 1: Assess Sunlight

Most pollinator-friendly flowers thrive in full sun. Look for a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Sun-loving native plants will produce more blooms, providing abundant nectar and pollen for pollinators.

Ideal Sunny Garden Spots:

• Along fences or property edges
• Near vegetable or flower gardens
• Beside a sunny patio or pathway

Step 2: Consider Shade Options

If your yard is partially shaded, don’t worry! Many native plants thrive in dappled light or partial shade and are still valuable for pollinators. Certain bumblebee species and other shade-tolerant pollinators will frequent these areas.

Native Plant Suggestions for Shady or Partly Shaded Areas:

• Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
• Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
• Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Ideal Shady Garden Spots:

• Under deciduous trees where sunlight filters through
• Along north-facing fences or walls
• At woodland edges or beneath large shrubs

Step 3: Check Your Soil and Moisture

Pollinators benefit from a variety of native plants, but those plants will thrive best in suitable soil. Observe whether your site has dry, sandy soil, rich loam, or damp, low-lying areas. Choose species adapted to your soil and moisture conditions.

Important Tip: Consider doing a simple soil test to check for pH levels and nutrients. Native plants are often well-suited to local soil without needing amendments.

Step 4: Think About Shelter and Water

Pollinators also need shelter and water sources. Include nearby shrubs, tall grasses, or trees for protection from wind and predators. A small, shallow water source like a birdbath with pebbles or a damp patch of soil can serve as an important hydration spot.

Important Tip: Easy ways to offer water:

• Shallow Dishes: Fill a shallow dish with fresh water and add pebbles or twigs for safe landing spots.
• Mud Puddles: Butterflies love to “puddle” and gather nutrients from damp soil—leave a small, wet patch in your garden.
• Birdbaths: Keep them clean, filled, and add stones to create resting places for small insects.

A reliable water source keeps pollinators healthy and helps your garden thrive!

No matter the size of your space, there’s a pollinator-friendly solution. From sunny wildflower meadows to shady woodland gardens, native plants will provide essential food, habitat, and shelter for pollinators. Stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll cover how to select the best native plant species for your garden!

(P.S. if you missed the first post about why you should plant a pollinator garden, read here.)