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)
Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
Shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana)
Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)
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)
Walter’s Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)
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)
Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera)
Herbs
Basil (Ocimum spp.)
Mint (Mentha spp.)
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!
