Creating a native pollinator garden is a lot simpler and more fulfilling than people often realize. At first, what seems daunting can quickly become a joyous and rewarding activity. Below you can find an easy, step-by-step process to help you get started:

1. Locate an Area: We recommend that you find an area that has extra space for planting, such as an area that currently exists as lawn. By doing so, you can positively alter the ecosystem by adding biodiversity to the area you have designated as your new, native pollinator garden. Don’t worry if the area you select is very wet or dry. Many native pollinator-friendly plants can thrive in these environments, and would occupy the space better than grass, which does best without extremes. These gardens do not usually needed to be watered.
2. Start Small: Do not feel like you need to create the final form to your garden from the get-go, or that you must include every native plant immediately. Start with just a couple species that you know will fit the soil moisture, lighting, and drainage needs. You can always expand later by adding other native plants that occupy the same niche as original plants that are growing the best in the selected site.
3. Let Them Grow: The nice thing about native pollinator gardens is that they don’t need a tremendous amount of care. If planted properly and in the right environment, they can often thrive on natural rainfall and without any additional soil amendments or fertilizers. They also rarely ever succumb to blight or pests, so you don’t need to worry about spraying pesticides.

The following organizations also provide resources on how to start your own native pollinator garden:

• How to Build a Pollinator Garden, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: simple steps to plan and prepare your garden, choose plants, and maintain a pollinator-friendly habitat
• Gardening for Pollinators, U.S. Department of Agriculture: tips to help create a pollinator-friendly habitat for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, including links to additional resources
• Plant and Create Pollinator Habitat Gardens, National Wildlife Federation: information on what to include in your habitat, such as food, water, shelter, and places for pollinators to raise their young
• Creating a Pollinator Garden for Native Specialist Bees, Cornell Botanic Gardens: information on how to plan and prepare your native pollinator garden, including an in-depth list of pollinator-friendly native plants specific to our region
• Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects: Great Lakes, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: a list of pollinator-friendly native plants, specific to the Great Lakes region
• Native Plants for New York State, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Putnam County: a list of pollinator-friendly native plants, specific to New York State