We all want to support pollinators, but the best way to do this varies based on where you live. If you live in the US, Xerces Society is a great resource for finding the most impactful pollinator protection tools at your disposal.
The organization’s Pollinator Conservation Resource Center is an easy to use website where you can narrow in on your specific geographic region to find the best habitat features, plants and feeds to support your local pollinators as well as pesticides and habits to avoid.
For example, if you live in the Southwest, milkweed is a critical plant for butterflies especially, but clovers, soybeans, sunflowers, and the snowy menodora are also excellent habitat choices.
Prepping your yard to support pollinators goes beyond plant choice too. In the winter, pollinators and insects seek out shelter in dead plant stems, leaves, and brush piles. When cutting back brush for winter, leaving stalks and stems 1-2 feet high, rather than cutting them back to the ground, gives these pollinators a place to rest and recover in the harsh winter months.
For the more experienced gardener or farmer, Xerces Society even has resources on harvesting your own wildflower seeds, bee identification guides, and estimated cost of installation for pollinator corridors on conventional farms.
As we head towards spring, now is a great time to start planning your garden and strategizing how to incorporate pollinator protection into your yard. Get started today by checking out the Xerces Society Conservation Resources to research your specific region.
