Pollinator Paradise: Tips for Attracting Bees and Butterflies to Your Garden

Bees and butterflies are vital not only for the health of your garden but also for agriculture. There are some crops, such as almonds, which couldn’t reproduce without the help of pollinators. Besides this, butterflies and bees are beautiful to behold as they do their business. Unfortunately, the overuse of pesticides, climate change, and habitat loss have endangered many beneficial insect species. The good news is that you can do your part to protect them as they make sure your garden flourishes.

Grow a variety of plants and flowers

Many people may be surprised to learn that monocultures, which are gardens or farms that grow only one type of plant, are magnets for pests. That’s why it’s important to grow various plants if you wish to attract bees and butterflies to your garden. If the plants are not native, make sure that they can do well in your hardiness zone.

Utilize plants that attract bees and butterflies

Besides growing a variety of plants, you can choose some that are especially attractive to butterflies and bees. Butterflies may use some plants as host plants for their caterpillars and others as food plants that provide nectar. Plants that are especially attractive to bees and butterflies include:

• Lovage

• Cilantro

• Goldenrod

• Lavender

• Milkweed

• Butterfly bush

• Nasturtiums

• Marigolds

• Queen Anne’s Lace

• Sunflowers

Note that these plants are either herbs or are also found in the wild. They attract bees and butterflies because their flowers produce loads of nectar and pollen. Professionals can help you plan a garden that’s irresistible to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Avoid pesticides or use them sparingly

Unfortunately, pesticides can’t distinguish between bugs that are beneficial and bugs that are pests. The overuse of pesticides has caused a dangerous drop in the populations of many types of butterflies and bees. Gardening experts suggest that if you must use pesticides, use them at those times when most butterflies and bees don’t fly, use them sparingly, or avoid them entirely by finding natural ways to get rid of pests. These include introducing predators such as ladybugs, praying mantises, or braconid wasps. It’s also good to have modest expectations regarding eradicating pests. Destroying every single aphid or thrip isn’t possible, nor is it good for your garden overall.

Make sure there’s an area for puddling

Another thing that attracts butterflies in particular is a muddy spot in your garden where they can puddle. This happens when butterflies congregate in a wet area to draw moisture and minerals from the mud. Some butterflies will even visit rotting fruit or other waste products.

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