1. Start with healthy nutrient rich soil. Don’t use pesticides or fertilizer on area.
  2. Know how much sunlight the area receives and how well the soil drains/retains water.
  3. Choose native pollinators from your region based on light and water.
  4. Determine how much space each plant will need once it has reached full size.
  5. Purchase plants that have not been treated either topically or systemically with      pesticides. Systemically treated plants will have the pesticide present for several years. If plants are not labeled ask. Many hardware stores outsource the purchasing of their plants and often don’t know the answer. In that case, they are likely treated.
  6. Many bees nest underground. If you plan to use mulch make sure it is also free of chemicals and mulch lightly. An alternative to mulch is compost.
  7. Have patience. A pollinator garden won’t necessarily look like a magazine cover overnight. It might also take some time for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds to discover your gift. Once they do, it will become an annual visit for all the above.

“One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken.” ~Leo Tolstoy

 

To learn more about Missouri Native Pollinators visit:  MOwildflowers.net

Meaningful Living