When we think of insects we think of pests like mosquitoes and cockroaches, but not all insects are pests. In fact, without insects, life on this planet wouldn’t be possible. Pollinators like bees and butterflies play an important role in our ecosystem. Every plant, from trees to the vegetables and fruit we grow, require pollinators to help them grow and reproduce. This makes it incredibly beneficial to attract pollinators to your yard.
When you attract pollinators to your garden, you will ensure that your plants grow properly and quickly. There’s nothing quite like watching butterflies flit from flower to flower, lazily drinking up the nectar.
Here is a list of tips to help you attract bees and butterflies to your yard.
Plant A Variety Of Flowers
Butterflies and bees love flowers and if you want to attract many different species, you will need to plant a variety of different flowers. Small butterflies have shorter proboscis and will have a hard time drinking from larger flowers so by choosing different sizes, colors, and shapes you’ll be able to attract butterflies big and small.
Of course, everyone knows how much bees and butterflies love flowers, but certain flowers are more delicious than others. Flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen are the flowers that will bring beautiful butterflies to your garden.
Butterflies love to lay their eggs on fennel, milkweed, and dill so that their larvae can feed on it when they hatch. Other great plants for your butterfly garden are: butterfly bush, lavender, goldenrod, marigold zinnia, and Queen Anne’s lace.
Refrain From Using Pesticides
When you notice garden pests chewing on your leaves don’t reach for the pesticides just yet. Pesticides can also kill butterfly larvae, butterflies, and bees which can affect the pollination process in your garden; remember no bees, no tomatoes. If you have a problem with pests in your garden look for alternative ways to control them that won’t harm the beneficial insects.
Keep Birds and Pollinators Separate
Birds are natural enemies to butterflies and bees so if you enjoy attracting birds to your yard be sure to keep your feeders and butterfly garden separated, preferably one in the front yard and one in the back.
Put Up Butterfly Houses
To increase your chances of attracting butterflies put up some houses near your flowers to entice them to stay. Butterflies are happy when they don’t have to spend all day traveling long distances for nectar. Give them easy access so they can enjoy the rest of the day sunning themselves around your garden. Putting up a butterfly house is a sure way to attract pollinators to your garden.
Bees Need Homes Too
Like butterflies, bees don’t want to travel too far for nectar if they don’t have to. Bees are the number one pollinators on the planet and no other insect can do it faster and more effectively than bees. That’s why many gardeners are installing their own private apiaries in their back yards to ensure they have early and healthy blooms throughout the year while also making their own honey. The flavor of the honey varies with the types of flowers you have, so experiment with a variety of different flowers to create your own unique flavors.
Get Professional Help From Cramer Pest Control
Beneficial insects are great to have in your yard but not all insects are pleasant. Some can cause serious harm to you and your family like mosquitos, fleas and ticks, bedbugs, fire ants and others. If you have a pest problem call the professional exterminators at Cramer Pest Control. We have nearly 20 years of experience battling pests in the Charlotte, NC area.
Check out our perimeter pest control program to protect your home from invading insects.
Just call (803) 802-7540 or send us a message.