Plant pollination doesn't just depend on what's blowing in the wind
Spring has defiantly sprung. My truck is covered with pollen and there is a yellow haze of pollen in the air. Not all of our plants are pollinated with the pollen that is blown in the wind. Some plants need pollinators to transfer pollen from one flower to another in order to reproduce. Pollinators are more than just honeybees; they include other bee species, moths, butterflies, flies, beetles, birds, bats and other small mammals. According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, there are approximately 200,000 different species of animals around the world that act as pollinators. Pollinators pollinate about 75 percent of the crops grown for food, fiber and medicines.
Flowers are not only beautiful, but are the part of the plant used to attract pollinators. The nectar that many flowers produce is an important food source for pollinators. The valuable nectar is deep within the flower.
As the pollinators reaches into the flower to retrieve the nectar, they touch the reproductive organs and collect the pollen that will be transferred to their next flower visit. Bees are very efficient pollinators because they only eat pollen and nectar and visit many flowers. Their hairy bodies pick up pollen and readily make the transfer of pollen easier. Jeffrey Webb with UGA Extension said there are more than 3,500 native species of bees and wasps in the United States.
Honeybees are native to northern Europe and were imported for their honey and wax. Honeybees are important because they are managed in hives. Honeybees are often moved from one field to another to help pollinate the crops that are in that field, usually fruit or vegetable crops.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, human activity has destroyed and fragmented many native pollinator habitats. Studies show there is a decline in pollinator population. Incorporating a pollinator garden into your landscape can provide a habitat for pollinators providing them with food, water, shelter, a place to reproduce and nesting material.
You can begin your pollinator garden by selecting plants that provide nectar and pollen to the pollinators. Select a wide variety of plants of different shapes, color and sizes. Choose plants that also flower at different times of the year to supply a food source in the spring, summer and fall. If you are limited on space, try container gardening. Some plants will be damaged from the larval stage of some pollinators, especially butterflies and moths. Because of this you need to be able to accept some damage to you plants. Provide a shallow dish of water with some stones placed in it for a water source. The stones will keep the pollinators from drowning. Leave some dead trees in your landscape for wood-nesting bees and beetles. Provide other nesting materials such as twigs, brush piles, pieces of string or a rock pile. Your pollinator garden also needs to be kept pesticide free.
Creating a pollinator garden is one of the many things we can do to help ensure the survival of our pollinators. If you would like more information on pollinators or the types of plants to put into your garden, please contact our office.
DATES TO REMEMBER
March 23: Area soybean production meeting, Sumter County Extension Office, noon
April 1-2: Spring Home and Garden Show, Fairgrounds
May 3: Propagation class, Perry 6-8 p.m.
May 12: Pollinators class, Perry 6-8 p.m.
For more information, contact Houston County Extension at 478-987-2028 or visit the office at 801 Main St., Perry. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Plant pollination doesn't just depend on what's blowing in the wind ."