How close should the pollinator garden be to the vegetable garden? Will seeding white clover in the grass area around the vegetable garden attract pollinators and improve pollination in the veggie garden? have read recommendation to intersperse flowering plants with the veggies to attract beneficial insects. Would it however have the opposite effect of drawing the pollinators to the more plentiful clover flowers in the lawn and away from the veggie garden?

  • j_roby@slrpnk.net
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    9 months ago

    Anywhere in the vicinity will work. Whether is surrounding your veggies, interspersed within, or a separate patch off to the side somewhere.

    These bugs know how to find what they’re looking for. Don’t overthink it.

  • apis@beehaw.org
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    9 months ago

    Clover will be good for your lawn & for your vegetable beds anyhow - the pollinators will find the clover as well as anything else that is flowering in your garden and have a fine old time. Maybe you could put clover in the lawn and add herbs to the vegetable beds? The pollinators here visit anything that is flowering, but the bees especially love the marjoram and rosemary, as do many of the hoverflies.

    If your garden is suitable for plants which can provide food to pollinators in the winter, when little else is available, and you’re willing to plant some, then you’re golden.

    • Breakpr0dOP
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      9 months ago

      Do you have suggestions on plants that do flower over the winter? I am in Sydney, Australia.

      • apis@beehaw.org
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        9 months ago

        In a very different part of the world, but will have a look for you. Suspect you’ll have a lot of options.