Helping in Your Backyard

Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we take each day. They are essential for the health of our ecosystems and the health of many of our food crops. However, pollinator populations are declining worldwide largely due to habitat loss and pesticide poisoning. Even small changes in our own backyards can help pollinators survive and thrive. Like all of us, these hard working creatures need food, water, and shelter.

Create your own pollinator garden at home!

Here are some ways you can help:

Provide habitat for pollinators.

Planting native flowers that bloom at different times. Nectar-rich flowers attract both insect pollinators and hummingbirds. Use these Ecoregional Pollinator Planting Guides to help get you started with an at-home pollinator garden. A more comprehensive planting guide is also available.

Offer pollinators a drink.

Place a shallow dish of water on your deck or window sill to help thirsty pollinators stay hydrated. By placing several semi-submerged stones in the water dish, you can provide pollinators with places to land so they can drink without running the risk of drowning.

Another benefit of helping pollinators - you get to enjoy their beauty!

NPS Photo / Daniel Peterson

Leave the leaves.

Dead leaves and plant material are food and shelter for pollinators in the winter. Resist the urge to rake your leaves in the fall and let them support pollinators throughout the winter season.

Limit the use of pesticides.

Before using a pesticide, ask yourself: Are flowers in bloom or are pollinators active during the pesticide application? Are there alternatives to using the pesticide? Am I applying the pesticide according to the instructions? Remember, pollinators can be harmed if they consume nectar or pollen that has come into contact with pesticides. You can also help reduce the risk of exposure by applying pesticides at night when pollinators are inactive.

Bees need your help!

Offer variety.

Ensure that different types of pollinators visit your yard by planting flowers of different shapes, sizes, and colors. Planting flowers in clumps, rather than scattering single flowers throughout the yard, makes it easier for pollinators to locate their next meal.

Nesting and sheltering sites are needed.

Remember that different types of pollinators require different things. Some bees and pollinating beetles may use downed tree limbs and logs; many butterflies lay eggs and rear their young on plants;a small patch of bare ground might serve ground-nesting bees. Potential nesting sites include trees (both living and dead), shrubs, brush piles, bare ground, and bee boxes.

Connected Conservation

Conservation at Home

Conservation At Home

Conservation At Home is an effort to let people know how they can help protect our natural world through small actions in their home, community, and region. Water, lands, and air are all connected, so the actions people take at home have far-reaching effects. People interested in helping protect pollinators can do a variety of things.