Pollinator-Friendly Gardening – Tip Sheet #12

Experts generally agree that pollinator-friendly gardening involves providing habitat (food, water, shelter) and reducing the use of pesticides. A wide variety of plants that flower throughout the seasons, including natives, are recommended. There are a number of free online resources that provide additional guidance, including recommended plant lists and how-to advice. A selection is listed below, including those from Washington State University (WSU), Oregon State University (OSU) and King County

WSU references are available at pubs.extension.wsu.edu:

• Beneficial Insects, Spiders, and Other Mini-Creatures in Your Garden, EM067E
• Lady Beetles: Should We Buy Them for our Gardens? FS268E
• Pesticide Ingredient: Neonicotinoids, FS210E
• Pollination & Protecting Bees and Other Pollinators, FS174E
• Washington Bumble Bees in Home Yards & Gardens, FS263E
• Are Native Trees and Shrubs Better Choices for Wildlife in Home Landscapes? FS300E

OSU references are available at catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu:

• Create a Butterfly Garden, EC1549
• Encouraging Beneficial Insects in Your Garden, PNW550
• Providing Habitat for Native Pollinators, EC1649

• Pollinator information. Website includes links to habitat guidelines and recommended plant lists.

www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/biodiversity/defining-biodiversity/species-of-interest/pollinators

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Resources, including planting a pollinator garden and creating nesting sites.

www.fws.gov/pollinators 

• U.S. Forest Service. Includes gardening for pollinators and pollinator-friendly practices.

www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators

• U.S. Department of Agriculture. Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden Using Native Plants.

www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/AttractingHummingbirdsFS-1046April2015.pdf

• Xerces Society. Website includes pollinator plant lists by region.

www.xerces.org/

• Pollinator Partnership. Website includes planting guides by region.

www.pollinator.org/

• National Pollinator Network. Website includes references, resources and links.

millionpollinatorgardens.org

• National Wildlife Federation. Website includes guidance on creation of pollinator habitat.

www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/National-Initiatives/Plant-For-Pollinators

• Great Plant Picks. Plant recommendations for our PNW, including those for birds, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

www.greatplantpicks.org/

• Washington Native Plant Society. Plant lists, including natives. Backyard wildlife and habitat resources.

www.nps.org/

Additional Master Gardener Tip Sheets, including “Gardening Websites” and “Gardening Publications” are available at kingcountymg.org/gardening-tip-sheets. Also see WSU’s “Gardening in Washington State” at gardening.wsu.edu and free downloads of WSU gardening publications at pubs.extension.wsu.edu.