Top five tips for supporting pollinators this summer

When we see the first bit of green finally break through the earth or bud form on a tree outside our window, we know spring has indeed sprung. That's when many of us start to think of our pollinator friends and what we can do to help them as our plants begin to grow and bloom.

But what about the dog days of summer? Although the Texas climate may have gardens looking less than lovely by August, pollinators will still need us. With a little advance planning now, we can support pollinators through the sweltering months and into fall.

Some popular garden plants like roses are usually self-pollinated or pollinated by the wind, but most of the flowers you can buy at a nursery are going to attract and need pollinators. Around 80% of flowering plants need pollinators to reproduce, and over three-quarter of the staple crops that feed people and livestock do too.

Thinking locally is a great way to help pollinators. Using plants native to your region can add some extra help to support both native and other pollinators, and native plants will be better suited for the soil and climate. With any plant, planting a cluster of several of the same type will make it easier for pollinators to find them. A bonus to attracting pollinators is that your local wildflower populations may also increase.

Molly Keck, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management program specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Entomology and serving Bexar County, offers some science-based advice to keep pollinators around and thriving during the hottest months.

Bees are the "bee's knees" among pollinators, Keck said.

"Bees are the best because they are actively going after the pollen," Keck said. "Their body is really fuzzy, so they pick up a bunch of that pollen and then they accidentally drop it off as they bounce from flower to flower."

When most people think of pollinators, and bees in general, they typically think of honeybees and maybe bumblebees, Keck said.

"But there's actually a lot of different species of native bees that are great pollinators that we often overlook because they’re small or we just assume they are honeybees because of how they look," she said.

Although bees may be the most efficient pollinators, plenty of other insects do their share of heavy lifting.

"Beyond bees, there are also butterflies and moths, flies, beetles and some wasps that are also good pollinators," Keck said. "The sheer number of beetles makes them a substantial, but often overlooked, pollinator."

In addition to insects, birds and bats can also be pollinators. Think about adding night-blooming flowers for nocturnal pollinators.

The majority of pollinators are most active in the spring and summer and then they start to slow things down in the fall. In fact, most insect pollinators, aside from honeybees, will die over the winter.

However, bees and other pollinators often lay eggs in hollow stalks of plants. If you typically cut these plants back or pull them up, find a corner of your garden or yard where you can leave them until next year.

Keck said those eggs pollinators lay and leave behind will hatch sometime between February and April, and the cycle will start all over again.

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Category:EnvironmentLawn & Garden