Pollinator & Wildlife Gardening
Key Questions
Which native plants attract pollinators?
Black-eyed Susan, coneflowers, yarrow, baptisia, lupine, butterfly weed, goldenrod, bee balm, zinnias, lantana, Blackfoot daisy, and coreopsis support pollinators in various soils, per NC State guide.
How to create bee stations and messy beds?
Build bee stations with hollow stems and maintain messy beds with leaves for nesting. These support solitary bees in pollinator gardens.
Why delay mowing, pruning, and cleanup?
Leave leaves and delay mowing/pruning until late spring to provide habitat for overwintering pollinators and wildlife, as in 'Garden cleanup tips for preserving wildlife habitat'.
Best practices for spring pollinator gardens?
Plant natives in April for timely blooms; use drought-tolerant coreopsis and soil-improving wildflowers, from 'Native Perennial Wildflowers to Improve Soil Health'.
How to garden for wildlife on National Gardening Day?
Create habitats with natives and messy areas to welcome pollinators and birds, per 'National Gardening Day: Garden for Wildlife & Pollinators' and NC State resources.
NC State guide/natives (black-eyed Susan/coneflowers/yarrow/baptisia/lupine/butterfly weed/goldenrod/bee balm/zinnias/lantana/Blackfoot daisy/coreopsis for drought/soil); bee stations/messy beds; leave leaves/delay mowing/pruning; timely spring/April DIY.