Why Planting A Household Pollinator Garden Is The Right Move
Why are pollinator gardens important? Over the past decade, a lot of attention has been brought to our planet’s dwindling bee population and the catastrophic effects a world without these pollinators may have. Pollinators are facing global declines due to manmade causes like habitat loss, poor nutrition, and pesticide exposure. Many people want to know what they can do at home to help save the bees and other pollinators. In Ashland, some residents have gone above and beyond and created their own bee farms in their backyard. As cool as that is, helping to save the bees can ‘bee’ 😉 as simple as incorporating a small pollinator garden into your yard’s landscaping.
Even if you have a bee farm, the bees cannot survive without the pollen from neighboring properties. This means that the best thing all of us can do to combat the declining bee population is simply providing food for local pollinators by planting a pollinator garden in our yard.
The beauty of pollinator gardens is that they do not need to take up a lot of space and can actually save you money in the long run. All it takes to create a thriving pollinator garden is the right selection of native plants.
Pollinator Gardens – A Crucial Part of the Local Ecosystem
Imagine looking out your window and seeing your yard alive and buzzing with wildlife! Hummingbirds, bees, moths, butterflies and over 100 other pollinator species live in the Pacific Northwest alone. Local ecosystems would be thriving if more American homes provided native pollinators with a sufficient food source. With a little foresight, every household can do their part to ‘save the Bees’.
If you are in the process of looking for a new home, ask your realtor if any homes on your list have a pollinator garden. If you don’t have space for a large garden, don’t get discouraged! Even a small patch of land, such as half the size of a parking space, can provide a habitat that contains vital food and shelter for pollinators all year round.
At KDA Homes we’re committed to building pollinator gardens into all of our new developments. Both Verde Village and our new development The Garden Cottages in Ashland were designed with bee-friendly landscaping.
The Right Plant for the Right Place
Successful pollinator gardens require native plants to provide the most nutritious food for your local pollinators. However, this does not just benefit the pollinators, it can also help save you money on your landscaping and utility costs. Check out these 5 reasons planting native plants in your garden helps you save money and the planet!
If your home does not have a pollinator garden, it is not difficult to start one. However, depending on your location, the types of plants you need will vary. Here is a guide from Oregon State University that describes the best native plants for your pollinator gardens in Oregon. Native pollinator gardens help homeowners decrease water consumption and increase the aesthetic of their yard by making it come alive with local wildlife.
The 4 most important factors of a successful pollinator garden:
- Stick to native plants in order to most effectively help native species.
- Plant a variety of native plants as different pollinators prefer different sources of
nectar. - Disperse plant color and bloom time throughout your garden to successfully attract pollinators.
- The entire garden must be pesticide-free!
Pro Tip: When purchasing plants, make sure to ask for the botanical name. This way you can make sure the plant is the best one for pollinators. Additionally, make sure the plant you are getting is not a cultivator, or else they will all bloom at the same time of the year.
Save The Bees, Take Action Today!
We believe that having a pollinator garden an important part of the home buying/owning process. Every garden makes a difference and will drastically improve the pollinator ecosystem.
The beauty of having a native pollinator garden is that they require very little maintenance while providing a tremendous benefit to the environment. With 40% invertebrate pollinators on the brink of extinction, it is important that we all do our part to save these vital creatures.
If you are interested in learning more about this issue and getting involved, check out the Ashland Garden Club and Bee City USA.
At KDA Homes, our mission is to be pioneers in smarter home design leading the way for sustainability in residential development and green building. We are proud to be part of a community that has been recognized as a Bee City USA for doing its part to make the world safer for pollinators. If you’re interested in being a part of a sustainable community in Ashland, Oregon please contact us today to learn more about KDA Homes currently on the market.
