The May Planting Formula That Brings Bees and Butterflies Back to Your Yard Fast
Ecological gardeners explain the six steps that will have pollinators beating a path to your patch this month
Gardens aren't just gorgeous to look at or spend time in, ideally they are self-sustaining ecosystems humming with life. When this happens, it can mean less work and more joy for you – and a more positive impact on the local ecology.
We know that spending time in nature is beneficial to our mental and physical health. This includes the sights, the scents – and the sounds, whether from fragrant flowers and flavourful fruits or beautiful butterflies and bird song.
Of course, for much of this to happen, we need those all-important pollinators. Bees, butterflies and other beneficial bugs enable our gardens to grow and flourish – and feed larger species (including ourselves). So what is the best way to bring them back fast, this month? We've asked the experts for their May planting formulas.
1. Choose Flowering Native Plants
Much has been written about native planting, but it is an important piece of the pollinator puzzle. Certain species of plant and pollinator have co-evolved to depend on each other, like Milkweed and the Monarch butterfly.
The good news is, the plants gardeners grow – if chosen wisely – can make a positive difference to pollinator populations. So prioritise plants that are native to your area.
This common milkweed from Nature Hill's is both food and a host plant for Monarch butterfly larvae, while this Balmy lilac Monarda from Burpee (also known as Bergamot) will have the bees buzzing.
A plant that Connecticut-based ecological horticulturalist, Rebecca McMackin loves is New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus).
'I don’t think I’ve seen a shrub as popular with pollinators as New Jersey Tea,' says Rebecca. 'Bees and butterflies, even rare ones, love the sweet and puffy white flowers. It's a host plant for the Spring Azure and Summer Azure butterflies, as well as the Mottled Duskywing butterfly. So butterflies both visit the flowers and lay eggs on leaves.
Native to the eastern half of North America, this compact ornamental plant blooms from June through August. It's drought-tolerant with deep roots and great for tough sites like dry slopes,
'New Jersey Tea grows to around 2-3 foot tall, and can even be a low hedge,' says Rebecca. 'It has a lovely reddish fall color, but don’t clean the dropped leaves away in the fall or spring, there are butterfly chrysalises among them.'
Look for this plant in local nurseries, if it's native to your region.
Rebecca McMackin is an ecological horticulturist and garden designer. She lives in the woods of Connecticut, writing, lecturing, and designing gardens. She is a public servant, dedicated to bringing beauty and biodiversity to all corners of our cities.
2. Reduce Or Replace Your Lawn With Plants
Perfectly manicured lawns have fallen from favor for all sorts of reasons. From the huge amount of water needed to keep them green and the regular maintenance required, to the threats to pollinators that they pose, turf is being tossed aside.
This is welcome news for says ecological gardener, Kim Eierman, founder Eco-Beneficial and author, The Pollinator Victory Garden, who thinks of lawns as green deserts or pollinator wastelands, and urges gardeners to replace them with flowering native plants to encourage pollinators.
'A decrease in biodiversity, an emphasis on lawns, the negligible use of native plants and an explosion of invasive plant species are all taking their toll on pollinators,' explains Kim. 'You can start quite simply by reducing your lawn, and replacing it with a variety of flowering native plants that you maintain free of pesticides.'
Experiment with part of your lawn, if you're not ready to let it go entirely, by sprinkling these clover seeds from True leaf Market, which germinate in 5-10 days and provide a nectar source for bees.
Rebecca likes violets, for their pollinator-luring potential. 'Violets are sweet and cute, edible, aromatic, and a host plant for one of our prettiest butterflies, the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly,' says Rebecca. 'They look lovely in lawns if you can pull your mind out of the “green carpet" mindset.'
Every state in the country has at least one species of violet. Some spread quickly but many stay where you put them. These pretty ground cover plants make great fillers in garden beds too, happily seeding around taller perennials and shrubs.
'They're a good species for sun and shade and never taller than 6”,' says Rebecca. 'It’s helpful to use them as “green mulch” rather than maintaining a vacuum of woodchips.'
Great Spangled Fritillaries fly from the east coast to the west and cover most of the country. In the summer, the butterflies lay their eggs on violets, or on fallen leaves near them. 'Not only is it important to have violets on your land, but also to leave the leaves where they lay,' says Rebecca.
'This provides habitat for caterpillars who might otherwise be harmed by exposure. The caterpillars eat leaves, but Fritillary adults love nectar.'
More of their favorite flowers include: milkweeds, thistles, ironweed, dogbane, mountain laurel, verbena, vetch, bergamot, joe-pye weed, and purple coneflower.
Rich in nectar and pollen, these beautiful coneflowers from Burpee will put on a spectacular display from June to August, attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
Kim Eierman is the Founder of EcoBeneficial LLC and author of The Pollinator Victory Garden. She is an ecological landscape designer and environmental horticulturist specializing in native plants. Based in New York, Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
3. Include A Diversity of Flowering Plants
When selecting plants for pollinators, bear in mind that different flowers feed different types of bees and butterflies, so diversity is key. Native plant species that produce pollen or/and nectar, such as clematis, catnip and salvias will be a big draw but the more flowering plants you can offer, the more visitors you will see.
'A healthy garden ecosystem is one that is full of many living creatures, so include a diversity of native plants, such as trees, shrubs, vines and perennials, that have a multitude of shapes and sizes to attract a great diversity of pollinators,' says Kim.
'Bees are the main flower visiting insects that drink nectar and also proactively collect and transport pollen. Butterflies and moths, with some exceptions, forage only for nectar, and they transfer pollen accidentally. A limited number of bees collect other plant substances to line their nest cavities.
Jessica Walliser, horticulturalist and author, Attracting Beneficial Bugs explains another reason why plant diversity is so important to attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
'They need to find flowers that match their mouths,' explains Jessica. 'Adult butterflies and moths drink nectar through a straw-like mouthpart called a proboscis, while as immature caterpillars, they chomp leaves or other plant tissue.
'Different flower shapes influence how available nectar and pollen are to feeding beneficials. Not all flowers are appropriate food sources for all beneficial bugs.'
For a vine, go for this, Major Wheeler honeysuckle from Nature Hills. It's tubular blooms are perfect for butterflies.
4. Plant Abundantly
Being generous with your planting is another part of the formula for bringing bees and butterflies back fast. These tiny creatures can tire if their food sources are too far apart. So a garden filled with densely planted pollen and nectar rich flowers will offer up a banquet for bees, butterflies and other beneficials.
'Not all pollinators can travel the same distance to find food' explains Kim. 'Tiny solitary bees may live within a few feet of their nest; bumble bees may venture a mile away, while homey bees can travel even farther.
'Butterflies - and birds - may travel even greater distances to get a meal. But travel has a significant cost for pollinators. They burn up calories and expend energy. Help pollinators save energy by planting your garden intensively.'
According to Kim, research suggests that a 3 foot square patch of the same species makes a good target for pollinators.
This Asclepias tuberosa from Nature Hill's is another native North American milkweed with bright orange blooms that serves as an essential host plant for Monarchs and other butterflies.
5. Plant Windbreaks
It's easy to forget how small and vulnerable bees and butterflies are, especially when the weather is inclement. Natural windbreaks can provide shelter for them, so include these in your planting formula.
'In their active season, pollinators require safe places to rest, warm their bodies, and shelter in bad weather,' says Kim. 'When protected from wind, pollinators not only have a greater chance of survival, but are also able to conserve energy, which allows them to forage more on flowers.
'Trees and shrubs are particularly effective as windbreaks. Flowering woody plants have the additional benefit of providing nectar and pollen, further expanding the foraging habitat.
Kim points out there is no magic formula or exact design for creating vegetative windbreaks. 'Assess the windy areas of your landscape, especially around foraging habitat,' she says. 'Staggered rows of diverse flowering trees and shrubs can be useful in these locations.
'Tall native grasses can serve as both windbreak and bee habitat. Native bunch grasses, such as prairie dropseed are good over-wintering sites for bumble bee queens, which may nest at the base of the grass,' continues Kim. 'Many native grasses are larval plant hosts for skippers, a large butterfly family too.'
Native to the eastern US, this white flowering dogwood from Nature Hill's is a beautiful option. For something with more color, this eastern redbud from Nature Hill's is another pollinator-friendly native flowering tree.
6. Add a Water Station
Part of your 'planting' formula this month should include water. Some gardeners add rocks to a bird bath, create a separate butterfly puddler or bee watering station, so pollinators can land and drink.
'In the heat of summer, a honey bee colony can drink one quart of water, or more, each day,' explains Kim. 'Gardeners can offer some simple water sources, which may be particularly important during droughts or very hot weather, when nectar flow is low.
'Bird baths are best kept for bird use, but shallow ceramic dishes, such as saucers for plant pots, can be filled with un-colored pebbles and topped with water. 'This gives pollinators a safe place to drink without the risk of drowning.'
This terracotta plant pot saucer from Lowe's is 1 1/8" deep, so would make a good puddler for bees and butterflies, once filled with stones and water.
By planting a diverse and abundant array of native flowering plants, shrubs, vines and trees in May, you will be providing a rich buffet for bees, butterflies (and caterpillars), as well as places for them to rest, hydrate and shelter.
Of course, there is no point enticing bees and butterflies to your flower beds if you spray them with pesticides. These chemicals will wipe out pollinator populations too. Try natural pest control methods instead.
'Pollinators face many challenges to their survival,' says Kim. 'Eliminating pesticides from your garden, gives them a fighting chance.'
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