Pollinators like bees and butterflies are crucial for our food supply and ecosystem, but their populations are declining. So, many of us are planting pollinator-friendly gardens to help—but does it matter what type of landscape surrounds your garden? A new study says maybe not as much as you think.
Researchers from the University of Tennessee discovered that what really draws pollinators to your garden isn’t necessarily your location—it’s how many flowers are blooming and how diverse those flowers are throughout the entire season. In fact, a garden full of blooms from spring to fall is more attractive to bees and other pollinators than any specific surrounding landscape.
The researchers set up four different garden types at five unique locations:
- Urban garden
- Forage grassland
- Mixed agriculture
- Forest
- Organic farm
The gardens were planted with flowers from three plant families—daisies, legumes, and mints—both separately and in a mixture. Then, they collected data on bee species visiting the gardens and their surroundings. Across the study, they identified 44 different bee species in the gardens and 52 species in the surrounding areas.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the type of land around the garden had less of an impact on pollinator presence than the flowers themselves.
- Floral diversity and abundance within the garden had the biggest impact on attracting bees.
- Land use around the garden (urban, agriculture, forest) played a smaller role than expected.
- Providing blooms all season long is key to boosting both the number and variety of bees in your garden.
The results suggest that you don’t have to live in the perfect location to make a difference for pollinators. Whether your garden is in a city, near a farm, or on the edge of a forest, the most important thing you can do is plant a variety of flowers that bloom from spring to fall.
So, What Can You Do?
- Plant diverse flowers: Include a range of flower families in your garden.
- Plan for all seasons: Ensure you have flowers that bloom in spring, summer, and fall.
- Don’t worry about your surroundings: Whether you're in a busy city or a rural area, your garden can still make a difference.
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Read the full study at PHYS.org