Creating a pollinator-friendly landscape in your garden is a great way to support local biodiversity. With the right plants and features, you can turn your yard into a habitat that attracts and sustains bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other vital pollinators. Here are some landscaping tips from Complete Landscaping to help you attract local pollinators and support your garden’s ecosystem.

Choose Native Plants

One of the best ways to attract local pollinators is by incorporating native plants into your landscape. Native plants are well-adapted to our region’s climate and soil, providing a reliable food source for local bees, butterflies, and birds. Species like desert milkweed, penstemon, and native flowering cacti offer nectar and pollen that are essential to native pollinators. 

Create Layers in Your Garden

Designing a garden with layers of plants at varying heights provides a mix of nectar-rich flowers, shrubs, and trees that attract different types of pollinators. Tall trees like mesquite or palo verde can attract hummingbirds, while low-growing ground covers like blackfoot daisy can provide forage for bees and butterflies. By having a professional landscaping company like Complete Landscaping create a multi-layered habitat, you can invite a diverse array of pollinators to your yard.

Add Water Features

Pollinators, like all wildlife, need a source of water. Adding a shallow water feature, such as a birdbath or small fountain, provides a place for pollinators to drink and cool off. Be sure to add a few rocks or floating materials to the water so that smaller insects and bees can drink safely. Alternatively, a simple dish of water with pebbles for landing spots will work well.

Provide Shelter and Nesting Sites

Pollinators need shelter and nesting areas to rest and reproduce. Small, undisturbed areas of bare soil can serve as nesting spots for ground-nesting bees. Leaving leaf litter in shaded areas creates a natural shelter for beneficial insects. You can also add a bee house or small piles of branches and twigs for solitary bees, which will encourage pollinators to make your garden their home.

Offer a Variety of Flower Shapes and Colors

Different pollinators are attracted to different flower shapes, sizes, and colors. To attract a variety of pollinators, Complete Landscaping can plant a mix of flowers that bloom in different shapes, such as tubular blossoms for hummingbirds and flat, open flowers for bees. Bright colors like yellow, red, and purple are particularly attractive to pollinators, as are flowers with strong fragrances.

Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides

Chemical pesticides and herbicides can harm pollinators directly or indirectly by contaminating the plants they feed on. Instead, practice organic gardening methods to protect these creatures. Natural solutions like companion planting and introducing beneficial insects can help control pests without the use of chemicals, creating a healthier environment.

Plant Flowers That Bloom Throughout the Year

Pollinators need a consistent food supply throughout their active months. By selecting plants that bloom in spring, summer, and fall, you can ensure a steady source of nectar and pollen. Flowers like blanket flowers, sage, and autumn aster are ideal for extending the flowering season and providing food for pollinators as the weather changes.

Redesign Your Landscape with Complete Landscaping

A pollinator-friendly landscape not only beautifies your garden but also contributes to the health of local ecosystems. By planting native species, providing water, offering shelter, and avoiding chemicals, you can make your garden a haven for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In return, they will help keep your garden thriving, supporting healthy plant growth and greater biodiversity.

Complete Landscaping can help design a landscape that will not only attract pollinators but will look stunning year-round. Whether you are looking for landscape maintenance or any other landscape work, look no further. Contact us today for your free estimate.