Bees, hummingbirds, bats, and insects may be small and inconspicuous, but without them all life would struggle to survive. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants and about 35 percent of our favorite food crops, such as avocados, watermelons, and almonds, depend on pollinators to reproduce.
Nevada’s dry climate may make it easier to grow food than Mars, but not by much (only 9 percent of the state’s land is cropland), but even here, industrious pollinators are valuable.
“To manage our own gardens, we need bees and insects to keep our little environments looking their best,” says arborist Ken Busse.
Insects are tiny destructive workers that break down debris and material in the soil, keeping the soil healthy. Butterflies and moths may be destructive pests as larvae, but they are beneficial pollinators and feed on fallen leaves as larvae.
These pollinators also contribute to the development of new plants, and of course, helpful bees keep personal vegetable and herb gardens alive and beautiful.
“They can pollinate all kinds of plants in the little garden we maintain,” Busse says.
Growing native flowering plants like salvia, buckwheat, and milkweed in clusters (rather than scattered throughout the yard) will help attract pollinators to your garden. Also, planting a variety of plants that flower in different seasons will keep pollinators nearby all year round. Most importantly, plant in full sun, avoid toxic pesticides, and remember to water your garden.
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