Guide for Assisting Pollinators: Steps You Can Take to Aid Pollinators
In Ohio, gardeners can play a crucial role in the conservation of key pollinators like honey bees, native bees, and monarch butterflies. By creating and maintaining pollinator-friendly habitats using native flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the growing season, and adopting chemical-free gardening practices, gardeners can help sustain these vital creatures [1][5].
Effective strategies include planting diverse native perennial wildflowers that bloom sequentially from spring through fall to supply continuous nectar sources. Incorporating host plants, such as milkweed for monarch butterflies, which are crucial for their larval stages, is also essential [1][5].
Some recommended plants for supporting Ohio pollinators include milkweed (Asclepias spp.), a vital host plant for monarch caterpillars and an excellent nectar source for many pollinators. Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), a native perennial popular with bees and butterflies, is another recommended choice [2][4][5]. Asters and goldenrods, which bloom late in the season, provide important nectar sources in fall. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) are also favourites among pollinators [2][4][5].
Incorporating a mix of plants with varied bloom times and structures supports a diverse pollinator community year-round. Native prairie plants, such as those found in Ohio’s tallgrass prairies, offer rich habitat and forage for pollinators and help maintain ecological balance in the region [5].
Other threats to pollinators include viral and fungal pathogens, pesticides, invasive plants, pests such as the varroa mite (specific to honey bees), and climate change. Providing a water source, such as a shallow dish or a birdbath filled with stones or sticks, can allow visitors to land without drowning.
Many plants frequently considered weeds, such as dandelions, milkweed, goldenrod, and clover, provide important food for pollinators. Consider tolerating these weeds. Grouping plants together in clumps can help pollinators find their food more easily.
In gardens and conservation areas, avoid using pesticides on plants visited by pollinators, including flowering plants and caterpillar host plants. Use an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to reduce pest pressure. Bees are uniquely adapted to gather and transport pollen. Ohio is home to approximately 500 species of bees.
Resources for learning more about pollinators include the Pollinator Partnership (pollinator.org), The Ohio State University Bee Lab (beelab.osu.edu), and the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (xerces.org). By focusing on these native plants and habitat-friendly gardening approaches, Ohio gardeners can actively help reverse pollinator declines and support healthy, resilient pollinator populations.
[1] Ohio Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). Gardening for Pollinators. Retrieved from https://www.ohiodnr.gov/pollinators
[2] The Ohio State University Extension. (n.d.). Gardening for Pollinators. Retrieved from https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-fact-2000
[3] Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. (n.d.). Plant for Pollinators. Retrieved from https://www.cincinnatizoo.org/conservation/plant-for-pollinators
[4] The Xerces Society. (n.d.). Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.xerces.org/ohio-pollinator-habitat-initiative/
[5] The Nature Conservancy. (n.d.). Ohio's Tallgrass Prairies. Retrieved from https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/ohio/ohios-tallgrass-prairies/
Read also:
- Company manufacturing Plumpy'Nut is thrilled beyond belief!
- Enhancements to Networking in Senior Care, Fedding Positive Experiences for Service Providers and Elderly Residents
- CDCH Highlights Increasing Tularemia Cases, Calls for Immediate Action
- Raksha Bandhan 2025: Honoring Sibling Ties, Exceptional Gift - Opportunity for a New Life
