Plant a pollinator-friendly garden this spring: 5 things to know

With spring around the corner, green-thumbed Islanders might be looking for ways to attract pollinators to their home gardens.

Pollinators like hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are important in the process of fertilizing and producing fruits, seeds and plants on the Island.

"A tremendous amount of our food crops are dependent upon pollinators. If we lose our pollinators we will be putting our food system into a very precarious situation," said Phil Ferraro, general manager at the P.E.I. Farm Centre in Charlottetown.

Here are a few things Ferrarosays to keep in mind if you arelooking to attract pollinators to your home garden this season.

1.Plan ahead

"Pollinators start early in the spring. It's kind of important to have a succession of plants that will bloom throughout the season," saidFerraro.

Different plants bloom at different points in the season, he said.

Plants likeblueberries, haskapberries and crabapples provide early blooms forpollinators, especially honeybees, who emerge earlyin the spring, he said.

Lavender, sunflowers, blackberries andchives are great options to plant for mid-season,he said, while squash, coneflower and borage are excellent for the late summer and fall.

"In fall they to need to make enough honey to get through the winter, so borage is very good for that," Ferraro said.

2. Less-manicured lawn

Keeping parts of your lawn or garden a little more on the wild side will help attract pollinators, Ferraro siad.

Planting Dutch clover in lawns and in the rows of your garden can also help draw in pollinators, he said.

3.Butterflies love milkweed

While all pollinators are important, there are some like butterflies that can help make for a pretty scenic backyard.

Planting milkweed is a great way to help make your garden a homey place for butterflies, Ferraro said.

"Milkweed is probably the number one plant that attracts butterflies."

4. Water

Pollinators need a water supply handy to keep busy.

If you're lucky enough to have a stream running through your backyard you're covered. Ifnot, installing a bird bath is a great idea to help them replenish, Ferraro suggested and keepthe waterfresh and clean.

5.Attracting hummingbirds

Trumpet-shaped flowers such as honeysucklemake your garden more attractive to hummingbirds.

"Their long beak is well adapted to getting the pollens from trumpet-shaped flowers," Ferrarosaid.

Some other plants to keep in mind to help attract some hummingbirds to your garden party arered or purple hollyhock, pink or red coral bellsand sage.

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