Pollinator health information for gardeners

Pollinators are a gardener's friend. Most flowering plants (including fruit and vegetables) can't reproduce without the help of bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, hummingbirds or other pollinators. The loss of pollinators threatens biodiversity and the survival of many native flowering plants that are important sources of food, habitat and other resources for people and wildlife.

By taking a few simple steps to protect these important creatures, you can help your garden thrive – and boost pollinator populations in Ontario.

What you can do to help:

• Provide food
• Provide water
• Provide shelter
• Become involved with a group

Provide food

• Pollinators need pollen and nectar to survive, so plant plenty of flowers, trees and shrubs.
• Aim for a succession of blooms from early spring until fall so that your pollinators don't go hungry.
• Include a mix of flowers with different sizes and shapes to attract different types of pollinators. Avoid hybrid flowers, as they don't tend to produce much pollen and nectar.
• Group plants of the same species together, so pollinators don't have to fly too far to collect nectar or pollen.

Provide water

• Pollinators need water for drinking and bathing. Some bees also use water to create pollen balls. Make sure they have access to shallow containers of water, puddles or ponds with gently sloping sides. (To avoid encouraging mosquitos, change the water frequently or install an aerator.)
• Some bees need mud to build their nests, so encourage a few damp areas in your garden.

Provide shelter

• Don't clear away dead plant material, because many pollinators overwinter in fallen leaves. Similarly, don't cut down hollow-stemmed plants in the fall: certain types of native bees will nest in the stems in the spring.
• Leave fallen branches or logs. These provide a home for other types of native bees.
• Leave a little bare soil in your garden for burrowing bees.
• Consider creating your own bee nests from wood or milk cartons.
• Choose seeds, seedlings and plants that are attractive to pollinators, such as hawthorn shrub, lavender, black-eyed susan and sunflower.

Become involved with a group

We all have a part to play in helping pollinators to thrive in Ontario. You can help by getting involved in groups that work to promote pollinators or participating in "citizen science" projects by providing useful information to help track and monitor pollinators and their habitats. Both are easy to do. Learn more about the many organizations in Ontario that have pollinator initiatives or are coordinating citizen science projects for pollinator research at Pollinator action highlights.

Learn more

• You can find more detailed information in Gardener Action Plan.