Attracting Spring Pollinators To Your Kansas City Lawn
With spring right around the corner, many Kansas homeowners and gardeners are busy planning this year’s garden. You might even be starting your plants indoors already. Starting a new garden in spring is one of the best feelings in the world. A garden is your pride and joy but you can’t do it alone. We need to take the time to appreciate all the pollinators and what they do for us.
Whether you are aware of it or not, pollinators are responsible for all the fruits and vegetables that grow in your garden. Plants need pollinators to carry pollen to other plants in order for them to reproduce. So it makes sense to want to attract pollinators to your garden. Keep reading to find out how.
What Are Pollinators?
When we think of pollinators our minds immediately go to insects, specifically honey bees. But there are other animals that can help with pollination. Some pollinators in Kansas City include:
- Bats
- Beetles
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
Add Flowers To Attract Pollinators
If pollinators are attracted to flowers then it makes sense that if you plant more flowers, more pollinators will come. Believe it or not, not all pollinators are attracted to all flowers. Some flowers are too deep for certain species to reach, while others like moths have a long proboscis that they can use to get at the deep flowers. Go crazy with flowers, you can’t have too many. Plant a mixture of perennials, annuals, and hanging baskets to entice pollinators from near and far. Some flowers to plant in your Kansas City Garden to attract pollinators are:
- Alyssum
- Butterfly bush
- Calendula
- Daylily
- Lavender
- Marigold
- Zinnia
Give Pollinators A Place To Live
Providing a place for your pollinators to live will encourage them to settle down and lay eggs. You can accommodate them by putting up butterfly houses, bee nesting blocks, or by having areas of shrubs or tall grasses.
Create Drifts
Some pollinators don’t have very good vision and rely on large patches of color to navigate. By planting flowers in groups around your yard you can mimic nature and make it easier for pollinators to find their target.
Refrain From Using Pesticides
If you want to attract pollinators then you don’t want to spray your flowers with pesticides. There are many beneficial insects that you can purchase to guard your gardens and protect your vegetables. If you have a large number of flowering plants then the chances of harmful pests being present is lower. That’s because many pollinators also prey on these insects. With constant activity, these pests will steer clear of your garden.
Add Some Trees
Flowering trees such as fruit trees or ornamentals are great for attracting large numbers of pollinators. Trees that are great for spring pollination are cherries, all types of crabapples, peaches, pears, apples, dogwood, and hydrangeas.
Hummingbird Feeder
Hummingbirds are everyone’s favorite pollinator. They are beautiful, graceful creatures that are a rare sight to behold. If you plant a large variety of flowers you might see these tiny birds hovering around your flowers. But if you really want to attract them you should put up a hummingbird feeder. These can be purchased at any hardware store. The nectar can also be bought but many gardeners find it more fun to make your own hummingbird nectar and store it for later use.
Lawn Care Services in Kansas City
We are on the heels of spring and that means that it will soon be time to bust out the lawnmower and gardening gloves. At Quality All Care, we have years of experience dealing with Kansas City lawns and summer weeds. With our aeration and overseeding program, we can repair and improve your yard to levels you never thought possible. We also offer comprehensive tree and shrub services and pest control solutions.
Call us at 913-894-9250 or leave us a message here. Check our monthly blog for more tips and tricks on lawn care.