Pollinators play a huge role in the local ecosystem, helping plants reproduce and create thriving environments for creatures big and small.
What’s all the buzz about pollinators? Sure, we talk about pollinators all the time and how we can help them - building pollinator gardens, planting native grasses, and even participating in No Mow May. But why is it so important to protect them? How do pollinators help the environment?
Types of Pollinators
When you think of pollinators, chances are a picture of a bee pops in your head. Bumblebees are by far the most common and most effective pollinator out there. But they aren’t the only one! Other common pollinators that you probably see around your yard include butterflies, birds, moths, and even some bats! When we talk about creating healthy habitats for pollinators, we are encapsulating all kinds of creatures who help our local ecosystems and environment.
What Do Pollinators Do?
Pollination is the act of, well, plants reproducing. When one part of the plant (called the anther) lands on the stigma of another plant, the pollination process has begun, which produces new seeds that can start the next cycle of plant production! Sure, wind and rain can help with this process, but pollinators such as butterflies and bees help make it happen more deliberately, rather than hoping for the wind to catch the right direction.
In gardens with plenty of pollinators, flowers and plants receive the necessary parts to keep producing and growing. Flowers contain sweet nectar for pollinators, who drink up to their hearts’ content before moving onto the next flower. While that happens, their bodies and feet pick up pollen from the first plant and drop off on the next plant! It truly is a win-win for everyone involved.
Did you know? Bees pollinate approximately 75% of flowers and plants in their ecosystem!
Benefits of Pollinators
Pollination doesn’t just mean more flowers for your garden. It means healthy native ecosystems, which can have ongoing positive effects for years to come. The flowers and plants that benefit from pollinators are beautiful, yes, but they also can help clean the air, prevent soil erosion, and limit carbon output.
Pollinators play a big role in the health of our air, our gardens, and our food. They promote the growth of vegetables and crops, they keep our oxygen breathable, and they help our gardens thrive. According to Pollinator.org, 75-90% of plants require pollination to grow and thrive. We can’t just leave that to chance blowing in the wind. Pollinators such as birds, bees, butterflies, and bugs help the world go round!
Creating a Pollinator Garden
By encouraging pollinators in your yard, you're doing a world of good for the environment. Planting flowers and shrubs that attract these beneficial bugs, birds, and butterflies helps ensure they have the food and shelter they need to thrive. And that, in turn, supports the larger ecosystem, from the smallest microorganisms all the way up to us humans!
Even starting small is a great first step to promote healthy ecosystems and pollinators. Pockets of pollinator-friendly flowers, water features, and native plants are a common way local homeowners are giving their gardens back to the environment. And bigger projects can include completely renovating your backyard to become a sanctuary for native grasses and the “good” kind of bugs!
Whether you’re curious about what kinds of flowers to pick out at the store, or if you want help creating a whole pollinator garden, give the team at SunKissed Landscapes a call. We can help liven your yard and give back to the local ecosystem with our sustainable landscaping projects.
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