Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Pollinators are the unsung heroes of every productive garden. Bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other insects transfer pollen between flowers, enabling fruit and vegetable production. Without them, your tomato plants would bear no fruit and your berry bushes would produce nothing. Creating a pollinator-friendly garden benefits both your harvest and the broader ecosystem.

Plant a diverse range of flowers that bloom across all seasons. indigenous South African plants are excellent pollinator attractors - buchu, salvia, agapanthus, ericas, and proteas provide nectar and pollen throughout the year. Avoid double-flowered cultivars, which often have reduced access to nectar. Plant flowers in clusters rather than single specimens, making it easier for pollinators to forage efficiently. Include shallow water dishes with pebbles for insects to land on while drinking.

Eliminate or drastically reduce pesticide use in your garden. Even organic pesticides like pyrethrum can harm bees if applied when they're active. Spray in the early morning or late evening when pollinators are less active. Leave some areas of your garden slightly wild - bare soil patches for ground-nesting bees, log piles for solitary bees, and leaf litter for overwintering butterflies. Avoid using netting over fruit trees during flowering, as it can trap and kill visiting bees.