SEPTEMBER 2016 N O . 1 9 4 Pollinators in the Landscape III: Creating and Maintaining Pollinator Landscapes By Rick Harper and Our understanding of the urban for- created habitats Amanda Bayer est doesn't have to be just limited to might be necessary. its trees. In a broader sense, the urban ecosystem in- Bundled hollow cludes a variety of habitats, including public open spaces/ stems, bamboo, or grounds, greenways, rain gardens, and a plethora of pri- reeds are good for vate landscapes. Hence, those of us who manage these cavity-nesting bees. sites need to be aware of the different elements that Logs and stumps comprise these spaces, in order to manage them in ac- with beetle tunnels cordance with specific objectives. can be added to the landscape for cavity Pollinator-friendly plants are just one part of creating and -nesting bees, along maintaining pollinator-friendly landscapes. The creation with nesting blocks. of pollinator habitats incorporates design, cultural prac- When placing tices, pest management, and weed management strate- potential habitat Silver-spotted skipper on Malus sp., Johnny Apple- gies. Pollen, nectar, water, forage plants, nesting areas, objects in the seed Orchard, Springfield, MA. Photo: Mollie and shelter should all be considered during the design landscape, wind Freilicher process. Be creative, and don’t forget to think both big protection and sun and small – pollinators can be supported in a variety of exposure are ways, from trees that provide shelter and nesting materi- important considerations. Shade and part shade areas are als, to annuals planted in a window box for nectar and important, along with sunny areas, as they provide pollen. protection from inclement weather. Hummingbirds need Up Ahead: Pollinator Habitats perches and nest sites on tall trees and shrubs away from Pollinators 1-4 Familiarizing yourself with the local predators. Hummingbird nesting materials can include Species pollinators will allow for the creation twigs, plant fibers, spider silk, lichens, or leaves. Fluffy or Spotlight 5-6 of appropriate habitats. Nesting and fuzzy plant fibers are commonly found in hummingbird Growing on shelter locations, pollen and nectar nests and can include ornamental grass plumes, lambs ear Trees 6-10 sources, and water needs vary among foliage, fuzzy seedpods, or soft casings. Butterflies need Grants 7 pollinators. Ground-nesting bees, perches for sunning, puddles, and forage plants for cater- Growing which account for around 70% of pillars. Clean water sources are important for many Greener 8 native bees, need small areas of bare pollinators and can be provided by birdbaths, fountains, Forest ground, sand, or sparse vegetation small ponds, puddles, or a damp salt lick. Legacy RFP 8 that are well drained and sunny. Plant selection and design can help ensure that pollinator Tree Steward Bumble bees can use rodent burrows, -friendly plants are available throughout the year. Planting Training 10 existing holes, fallen leaves or plant in clumps and repeating plants throughout the landscape Gleanings 11 matter, grassy areas, and meadows. will help avoid having pollinator habitats that are too News 13 Maintained landscapes do not always On the have appropriate nesting sites or Horizon 14 materials, so (Continued on page 2) P A G E 2 SEPTEMBER 2016 Creating and Maintaining Pollinator Landscapes (Continued from page 1) tor exposure to pesti- cides. When pesticide small or isolated. Be aware of pollen and nectar content applications are in flowers – perennials often have more nectar than needed, the least annuals, and wildflowers are some of the best sources of toxic possible should pollen. Cultivated plants can be bred to be sterile, and be used and label double or very showy flowers often have less pollen than recommendations simple single flowers. Floral features attract different should be checked pollinators, so having a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and followed regard- and scents can increase pollinator diversity. Having ing use around polli- foraging and nesting sites in close proximity can assist in nators and toxicity protecting habitats. Have a diversity of plant materials, levels. Pesticides from perennials and annuals, trees and shrubs, to no- or should be applied low-mow areas. Consider putting plants where pollina- when pollinators are tors nest or overwinter away from high traffic areas; this least active (such as provides protection for pollinators and can hide damaged late evening) and should be avoided on plants. (Some life stages require pollinators to eat vegeta- Red maple (Acer rubrum) flowers, Amherst, plants and weeds tion, so plan accordingly.) MA. Photo: Mollie Freilicher around blooming Cultural Practices plants being frequented by pollinators. Use pesticides Pollinator habitats also need consideration during garden that do not persist on vegetation, and do not spray at clean-up, as fallen branches, stumps, and leaf debris can low temperatures when dew formation can re-wet pesti- be pollinator habitats or overwintering sites. When cides. Most pollinator poisoning occurs when pesticides possible, wait to trim and prune until after pollinator are applied to blooming plants, but it can also occur from emergence in the spring. Limiting mowing to every other drift, contamination, or residues. Natural pest control week, or setting aside areas that can be mowed less, as through the use of beneficial insects should be used well as limiting pesticide applications, can help reduce whenever possible. pollinator stress. Preventative measures such as groundcovers, weed Knowing what pests are actually harmful to your plants barriers, hardscapes, and mulches should be used to and using integrated pest management (IPM) monitoring control weeds, along with mechanical or manual weed strategies can help to limit pesticide use to times when control methods such as mowing, cutting, pulling, pests reach critical levels. This also helps to limit pollina- girdling, and tilling. Reintroducing natives and establishing desirable, stable plants can help to resist invasive species. Biological control, or natural enemies, can be used to keep invasive plants manageable when allowed to become established in pollinator landscapes. Biological controls are used to manage unwanted plants through destruction or competition and are best used when pest populations are low. If physical means prove ineffective, focused selective herbicides should be used. Weed pres- sure can be reduced through proper management of soil nutrition and irrigation, with over-fertilization and over-irrigation resulting in excessive weeds. Pollinator Highlight: Bees There are many different species of bees in the United States, with around 350 native bee species in Massachu- Ruby-throated hummingbird on bee balm (Monarda didyma), Amherst, MA. setts. Bees are high energy and need pollen and nectar Photo: Amanda Bayer (Continued on page 3) THE CITIZEN FORESTER department of Conservation and Recreation SEPTEMBER 2016 P A G E 3 Creating and Maintaining Pollinator Landscapes (Continued from page 2) References: Pesticide Task Force of the NAPPC. Protecting Pollina- tors: Why and how pesticide applicators can help them. http://pesticidestewardship.org/PollinatorProtection/ Documents/NAPPC.pesticide.broch.Applicators17.pdf USDA Forest Service. Pollinators. www.fs.fed.us/ wildflowers/pollinators/animals/ US Fish and Wildlife Service. Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden. www.fws.gov/pollinators/pdfs/ PollinatorBookletFinalrevWeb.pdf National Audubon Society. How to Create a Humming- bird-Friendly Yard. www.audubon.org/content/how- create-hummingbird-friendly-yard Bee on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Leverett, MA. Photo: Mollie Freilicher Lois Berg Stack and Frank Drummond. University of Maine. How To Create a Bee-Friendly Landscape. from a variety of plants to feed themselves and their http://umaine.edu/gardening/master- young. Nesting habitats vary for different types of bees gardeners/manual/ecology/how-to-create-a-bee-friendly- so it is important to have a variety of potential habitats in landscape/ the landscape. Bees are typically attracted to brightly colored flowers (except red; bees cannot see red) that The Xerces Society. Pollinator Plants, Northeast Region. are full of nectar. They prefer sweetly smelling flowers www.xerces.org/wp- that are open in the daytime and have landing platforms. content/uploads/2014/09/NortheastPlantList_web.pdf Tubular flowers with nectar at the base of the tube are often frequented by bees. Buzz pollination, which is a USDA NRCS. How Gardeners Can Help Pollinators unique type of pollination to bees, is when the bee grabs www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsa a flower in its jaws and vibrates its wings to dislodge nimals/pollinate/gardeners/ pollen trapped in the anthers. This is common for www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/supporting_t tomatoes, peppers, and cranberries. he_health_of_honey_bees_and_other_pollinators.pdf Bees can be either social or solitary, with ¾ of native Stubbs, C.S. and N. Coverstone. Understanding Native bees being solitary. Social bees include the bumble bee Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in and honey bees. Solitary bees include carpenter, sweat, Maine. University of Maine. Bulletin #7153 mining, and leafcutter bees. Some crops such as pumpkin, http://umaine.edu/publications/7153e/ cherries, blueberries, and cranberries are better polli- nated by native bees than honey bees. Tomato and egg- New England Wildflower