SOMA Living May 2023

CREATING A POLLINATOR GARDEN IN SOUTH ORANGE/MAPLEWOOD

Q: WHAT IS A POLLINATOR GARDEN? A: A pollinator garden is designed to contain plants with large, compound inflorescent flowers to provide food and shelter to animals (bees, birds, butterflies, moths, wasps, bats, and small mammals) that pollinate plants that support the local ecosystem. Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF A POLLINATOR GARDEN? A: While there are many benefits to a pollinator garden, the biggest for the busy homeowner is the low maintenance they require while still adding beauty to your landscape. Q: WHAT POLLINATOR PLANTS ARE NATIVE TO SOUTH ORANGE/MAPLEWOOD? A: The plants primarily used to create a pollinator garden in the South Orange/Maplewood area are Joe Pye Weed, Milkweed, Golden Rod, Salvia, Agastache, Butterfly Bush, Cone Flower, Daisy. Q: WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER PLANTING A POLLINATOR GARDEN? A: You should consider planting a pollinator garden not only for the beauty it will create in your landscape, but for the essential role pollinator insects play in the success of any garden whether it be a flower garden or a vegetable garden. Q: HOW IS A POLLINATOR GARDEN CREATED? A: A pollinator garden is created by arranging the same variety of plants in groups of 3 to 5 in a minimum space of at least 25 square feet. Plants are then selected based upon the environment of sun or shade, planted, and mulched to keep them moist. The plants are then kept healthy by deadheading old flowers and watering liberally. Pesticides should never be used in a pollinator garden.

POLLINATOR FUN FACTS: Top Five Pollinating Insects: • Wild honeybees • Managed honeybee • Bumble Bee • Butterfly • Moth A bee colony will pollinate 3 million flowers a day. For advice or help creating your garden contact Bill Slevin

BILL SLEVIN 715 Spruce Street • Boonton NJ 07005 www.SlevinGroupNJ.com Office: 973-632-0302 Cell: 973-747-7691

MAY 2023 | SOMA LIVING 9

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