Pollinators play a vital role in food production and maintaining natural ecosystems. Planting native trees and flowering plants is one way to promote local pollinator habitat.
“Planting Trees and Helping Bees” in Mapleton was the topic of a seminar hosted by the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA ) on June 2 at the Alma Community Center.
Pollinators include bees, flies, butterflies, beetles, wasps and ants. Bees are excellent pollinators as they have hairy bodies suitable to the transfer of pollen and forage one plant at a time.
Conservation outreach specialist Karen Buschert laid out a plan for attracting native pollinators to Mapleton properties.
“Look for wild areas like forests, wetlands, meadows, hedgerows or stream banks that may already provide good pollinator habitat for all stages of a pollinator’s life cycle,” Buschert said.
Check for trees, shrubs, annual and perennial wild flowers and spring, summer and fall flowering species, she suggested, also for bare ground for ground nesting bees, hollow twigs, stems and flower heads that provide over-winter habitat and leaf litter and rotting logs that are habitat for many overwintering butterfly and bee species.
Buschert suggested the elimination or minimization of pesticide use and offered recommendations for safe application, including spraying on days with no wind to minimize drift, and selecting pesticides with a short residual.
Select native species over garden cultivars, she advised. Many are bred for show and colour and may not necessarily provide effective pollen and nectar for insects.
Buschert also suggested avoiding non -native invasive species as native pollinators my not be attracted to them. Select plants with a diversity of flower shapes and colours to attract different kinds of pollinators and plant in clumps to assist pollinators in travelling from flower to flower.
“Native plants in the Grand River watershed include serviceberry, Canada plum, honey locust, witch hazel, elderberry, black eyed Susan, blazing star and swamp milkweed, to name a few,” Buschert said. “Learn to recognize the main pollinators and the plants they are attracted to.”
Trees for Guelph coordinator Moritz Sanio specializes in creating pollinator gardens. A horticulturist by trade, Sanio has been employed at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton and is currently employed with the City of Guelph.
Sanio works at various locations around the city including school sites, city parks and vacant land creating pollinator gardens.
“Usually the soils I am working with are a combination of sand, gravel and topsoil. Matching the right plants to the site is vital. Always start small and stick with native species. So far the success rate I’ve had with the projects I have completed has been 85 per cent,” Sanio said.
He suggested native species should be planted in the ground or broadcast as seeds onto the surface of the soil in the fall. Planting in spring is the European method, not suited to native plantings. No fertilizers are required. Sanio’s slide presentation showed many areas of Guelph and the Luther Marsh where pollinator gardens have been established on unsuitable soils and were successful.
“Everyone from school children to neighbourhoods get involved in these projects. Most have never gardened before and they are the ones that I see coming back to work on new projects. It’s rewarding for both them and me,” Sanio said.
Buckthorn is a non-native plant that is of concern to Wellington County residents. Sanio informed workshop participants that nothing feeds on the plant so it survives well. The best control for the plant is to remove the female plants that produce berries, thus slowing down the process.
GRCA forestry specialist Joseph Heeg wrapped up the workshop with information on available tree planting programs in Mapleton Township including funding and grants available to farm and rural non-farm residents. Landowners with properties greater than five acres are eligible for funding for tree planting or wetland creation projects, with priority given to areas adjacent to watercourses.
Site visits to help assess properties for pollinator potential and implementation of projects are available by contacting the GRCA at ruralwaterquality@grandriver.ca.
