Simple Guide to Pollinator Plants | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada teaches host Kevin O’Connor the basics of pollinator plants and the role they play for these critical insects and birds. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Kevin O'Connor and Jenn Nawada take a road trip to a local nursery to discuss pollinator plants. After explaining that every plant that flowers is technically a pollinator plant, Jenn shows Kevin some of her favorite varieties. The two discuss some early season, mid season, and late season pollinator plants, as well as the importance of these plants as a source of food for critical pollinators. Where to find it? Jenn and Kevin head to the garden center to discuss pollinator plants and how to create a pollinator garden at home. Pollinator Plants are flowering perennials, annuals, or shrubs that provide nectar and pollen essential for a flourishing pollinator population, which allows for crops and flowers to continue producing seeds and fruits via insect pollination. Pollinators include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other insects beneficial to gardens. Jenn shares her tips for creating a pollinator garden: - Planting only a few pollinator plants here and there will not make a noticeable difference. Jenn recommends planting multiples of each pollinating plant and grouping them together. - Try to pick annual perennials that come back each year to keep maintenance to a minimum. This will also keep bees and birds coming back each year. - Try to choose native plants. Native plants are more likely to attract local pollinators than imported or hybrid plants. They also require less water because they are already acclimated to your local climate and soil. - Most pollinators prefer spending time in the sun so try to place pollinator plants in sunnier areas of your garden. - If possible, try to have a water source nearby. This can be as large as streams or ponds or as simple as a birdbath or small water container. Pollinators seek out water for drinking, reproduction and just staying cool. - Choose plants with a variety of colors, create a visual buffet for bees to choose from! Also, be sure to choose plants with a variety of bloom times, allowing plants to bloom in succession throughout each season instead of all at once. This provides consistent food for pollinators and encourages them to return to your garden all season long. Jenn Nawada and Kevin O’Connor visited Mahoney’s Garden Center [https://mahoneysgarden.com/]. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/streaming-app About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Simple Guide to Pollinator Plants | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/