Be a Hero to Pollinators

Seven ways to create a paradise for bees, butterflies and more beneficial bugs

- By Erica Browne Grivas

Jessica Walliser smiles at the telltale slices in her coral bells' leaves. It's a sign that leafcutter bees are building their nests.

As a horticulturist and author of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to the Garden, she leaves perennials intact for overwintering insects and allows the wool carder bees to steal lamb's ears' plant fuzz. Her garden is a bustling and balanced ecosystem for bees and other pollinators. Many gardeners are drawn to having an insect-friendly garden-not only because it offers a landing for garden helpers, but also because the plots need less water and pesticides, as well as less effort. Here are some simple ways to welcome back pollinators.

1 FILL IN THE LAWN

Traditional grass lawns reduce habitat and food sources for beneficial bugs and pollinators. Consider converting patches of your lawn from grass to flowers, shrubs or blooming ground covers. It looks fantastic and your garden will be easier to manage once established, notes landscape designer and author of Prairie Up, Benjamin Vogt. He says, "If the plants are layered and chosen correctly to match the site, they will require less maintenance than a lawn."