June 22nd

By Mutt Mulligan

3 ways to support pollinators during National Pollinator Week

This week (June 22-28) is National Pollinator Week, a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what each of us can do to protect them. Pollinators are the birds, bats, bees, beetles and other small mammals that pollinate plants.

These tiny creatures have a big role to play! They are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food we take. Pollinators also help plants reproduce, which allows living landscapes to do their part for the planet – providing shade to cool our homes and communities, increasing carbon sequestration, and preventing soil erosion.

You can help pollinators in your own backyard and community spaces. Here’s how.

• Select flowering plants that thrive in your yard’s conditions. Take into account your climate zone, soil type, sun/shade ratio, and average rainfall.
• Plant a healthy mix of grasses, garden flowers, shrubs, and trees.
• Insects need water, as well as pollen. Place a shallow basin of water with some rocks or gravel that insects can perch on to quench their thirst.

To learn more about the benefits of our living landscapes for pollinators, people, and the planet, go to TurfMutt.com. To learn more about how to help pollinators in your own backyard, check out TurfMutt’s Plant It for the Planet infographic.