Gardening Magazine

We’re Buzzing About Bee and Butterfly Gardens!

By Shurby

How to Plant a Bee and Butterfly Friendly Garden

There are many reasons to landscape your yard, including stress relief, and the fact that plants help the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. However, one of the often overlooked benefits is the opportunity to provide a habitat for native fauna and wildlife!

If you’ve been tuned into the news at all the past few years, you might have seen that there is an increasingly alarming trend of bees dying off in droves. It is a very complex issue and scientists aren’t really entirely sure why it is happening, but a definite factor is the increasing use of pesticides. One way you can help is by planting a pollinator friendly garden with native plants that will attract bees and butterflies.

Flowers

Monarch Flowers (Danaus plexippus)

Monarch Flowers_Butterfly Garden

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Pentas Flowers_Bee Garden Plants

Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana)

Shrimp plant_butterfly garden plants

Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)

Swamp sunflower_bee butterfly garden

Many of these Florida-friendly plants are heat, salt, and drought resistant and are therefore low maintenance. While maintaining these plants be sure to avoid insecticides and herbicides.

Shrubs

Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

Saw Palmetto_Florida Plants_Orlando Landscaping

Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)

Orlando Land Clearing, Orlando Landscaping, Orlando Lawn Care, Orlando Gardening, Orlando Yard of the Month

If you have to use pesticides, be sure to avoid systemic ones such as neonicotinoids that affect the vascular system of the plant so the pollinators will be exposed to the product. An alternative to harsh chemicals is the use of biocontrol, or using natural predators of problem bugs.

Trees

Chaste Tree  (Vitex agnus-castus)

Chaste Trees Attract Bees and Butterflies

Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)

Sea Grapes_Florida Plants_Orlando Landscaping

Herbs

Basil (Ocimum spp.)

Basil Herb_Bee Garden_Butterfly Garden

Mint (Mentha spp.)

Thyme Herb_Thyme Plant

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Daniel’s Lawn Service & Pressure Washing can help you build your butterfly and bee garden at an affordable price that works for you! With our help, your beautiful yard will be the buzz of the neighborhood!


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