Written By: Madelynn Gevaert 5/5/2023
Pollination is an essential part of the reproduction process of plants. Pollination is the process of transferring pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts, and it is necessary to produce seeds, which are the basic building blocks for fruits and vegetables. Without pollination, plants would not be able to reproduce and would eventually die out. Now that being said, How do you attract more pollinators to your garden for a bountiful harvest season?
Attracting Pollinators To Your Garden
To attract pollinators to your garden, plant a variety of native flowers and shrubs. Research shows that bees are more attracted to the native species around you than that of an exotic plant. Keeping these around will help attract pollinators to your garden. This also works by planting varieties of fruits and vegetables, offering some diversity for the pollinators.
Pollinators are most attracted to flowers that are brightly colored and have a strong scent, it is a good idea to have many different kinds of flowers around, specifically those with colours purple, blue, white, yellow and violet are most attractive to pollinators.
Additionally, choose plants that flower at different times throughout the year to ensure there is always something attractive in bloom. This ensures that there is always a friendly pollinator around keeping busy to help you with a larger yield.
Try to create an environment that provides a safe place for pollinators to feed, with plenty of perching and nesting areas. There are all kinds of bee feeders / butterfly feeders to be bought!
Finally, use organic gardening methods and avoid pesticides, as they can be harmful to pollinators. Using pesticides can be beneficial in the sense that it will eradicate pests and problems, however most often you will be losing your beneficial insects too after treatment. A good way to control pests organically are with predatory insects and for diseases, using an organic friendly spray works well.
Best Native plants in Ontario For Pollinators
Serviceberry
Swamp Milkweed
Strawberries
Aster’s
Bergamot
These and many other native plant species can be found at local nurseries and also online through Products – Ontario Native Plants (onplants.ca) !