June in National Pollinators Month.

Many gardeners are now including nectar and pollen-rich native plants in their gardens to provide much-needed food for pollinators. This is a vital first step to help our pollinator friends.

Food is important, but pollinators also need shelter and nesting habitat to survive. Traditional landscapes rarely have enough resources to shelter and support pollinators.

So, this year, make your property more pollinator friendly by creating good shelter and nesting sites. It’s easier than you think.

Make use of a free resource:

Use leaves instead of wood mulch in beds around trees and shrubs. A layer of leaves one to two inches thick insulates and protects the larvae of many insects, including fireflies, goldenrod beetles, and moth and butterfly chrysalises.

You can also plant native perennials under trees to create a “soft landing” for pollinators and beneficial insects.

Overwintering bumblebee queens seek out leaf litter. Leave the leaves and plantings undisturbed as much as possible.

Create places for pollinators to nest:

Wild bees nest in the ground, in stems and in dead wood. There are many ways to provide nesting sites.

Build a rock wall. The crevices in dry-laid rock walls are perfect places for bumblebees and others to nest. No room for a wall? Even a small pile of rocks will provide a nesting place.

Leave some dead wood in your landscape for wood-nesting bees. Dead logs can be placed in beds or used as edging for a naturalistic look. If you have a dead tree that doesn’t create a hazard, let it stand or top it to a height where it won’t become a problem.

Leave some bare, undisturbed soil for the ground-nesting bees. Seventy percent of bees nest in the ground. They can’t nest in thick turf and are destroyed if the soil is rototilled or pesticides are applied.

Leave garden cleanup until spring:

Many bees nest in hollow or pithy stems and will overwinter there. Instead of cutting down beds in the fall, give yourself a much-needed rest and wait for the bees to emerge in spring. Cut the stems back to 8 to 24 inches in early to mid-April. You can even pile up the stems you remove and grind them later in May.

Many ways to provide shelter:

Plant densely so that pollinators have protection from winds on chilly days.

Include clumping native grasses in your plantings. Bumblebees like to nest at the base.

Place rocks in sunny areas where pollinators can rest and warm up.

If you have the space, create a brush pile.

Be less aggressive with your outdoor housekeeping, and pollinators will thrive in your yard for years to come.

Plant it for the planet. Choose flowering native plants for pollinators.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613.