04/03/2025
Remember to hold off on your spring garden clean up!
𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀! 🐝
𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒:
- 80% of native bees nest in dead plant stems
- One stem can house up to 20 pollinator larvae
- Early cleanup destroys 6 months of bee development
- Native bees are worth $2000 per yard in pollination
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 "𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲" 𝐘𝐚𝐫𝐝:
1. Hidden Residents:
- Mason bee cocoons
- Leafcutter bee nests
- Native wasp larvae
- Beneficial predator eggs
2. Critical Areas to Protect:
🌿 Hollow plant stems
🍂 Leaf litter piles
🌱 Standing perennials
🌸 Seed heads
3. How to Help:
- Wait until May to clean up
- Leave 15" stem heights
- Create brush piles
- Mark pollinator areas
𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍:
✅ Stop all cleanup until 50°F consistent temps
✅ Bundle and store cut stems
✅ Create "pollinator corners"
✅ Educate your neighbors
𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑:
𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲 𝐲𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦!
