5 Reasons Pollinators Aren’t Visiting Your Garden

[@CustomGardenSolutions]

Luke very good information today. One of my neighbors moved recently. She had a unbelievably large flower garden with a really wide variety of flowers. The new neighbors grew absolutely no flowers. I noticed this spring that we had less bees flying around. I normally don't grow flowers on my property but I'm going to have to start next year. Fortunately by the middle of the summer my vegetables and herbs attracted plenty of bees but I could tell that losing my neighbors huge flower garden reduced the number of bees.

[@zaviahopethomas-woundedsou9848]

Most people do not realize honey bees are not native to the US, there are many others that are great pollinators. My preference is mason bees, they do not sting!

[@neednaturenow]

Been following your videos and using your products for years now. Since I started my garden, my yard has turned in to a nature playground. Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, rabbits, snakes, frogs, squirrels... they have all moved in. They eat but there is still plenty for us to eat and preserve. I am hoping to expand the varieties of flowers in the yard so there is more choices through the seasons. Thanks for sharing!

[@JojoCrazyCat]

I noticed that i had much more Butterflies and Hummingbirds sense i planted a flower garden this year. Is why i also added 2 Hummingbird feeders, when i saw the Hummingbirds flying around.

[@nmnate]

Long blooming, native perennials seem to help me bring in pollinators (mostly native bees, flies, some butterflies). You want to ensure that you have diversity in flower type and bloom time (super early, and super late in the year are also really important). I'll start building native bee homes next year. Pretty simple to do. We have apache plume, monarda, salvias and many crosses, echinacea, nepeta, asters, helianthus, penstemon to name a few. Will keep expanding as our garden matures. Don't forget other types of host plants (milkweed, dill family plants) to encourage certain species. Swallowtails seem to love our fennel plants.

[@wingabouts]

I have a pretty small yard, no lawn, just 8 raised beds. I didn't want to use my raised bed space for flowers so I spaced out 4 hanging baskets along my fence and filled them with a variety of flowers. They look fabulous and the bees hung out in my yard all summer long.

[@joycemiller7908]

My bronze fennel is a pest, with its seeds sprouting everywhere, but all kinds of pollinators love it, so many sizes & shapes, including all kinds of wasps. I just read that in areas of the Arctic where it's mostly too cold for bees; mosquitoes do most of the pollinating. Good to know they have a positive purpose somewhere, eh? This year, I had more bumblebees in spring, then the honeybees came later.

[@emporiomoffa]

My sister has long established Russian Sage that draws those black bees like crazy. It's awkwardly in front of the garden hose hook up and in a corner by the garage, so we need to put more of this around the front garden next year, as these are the bees that mostly pollinate our vegetables.

[@johngault8688]

I've noticed (here in Jacksonville, Fl) that it's super easy to attract all sorts of pollinators by just allowing "weeds" to go to flower. Some of the "weeds" that I use to see as true weeds are now some of my favorite plants in the yard and super at attracting all sorts of pollinators; including honeybees and all the various native bees. Some of them include the Florida Betony (Mint family), Spiderwort and Violet (or pink) Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea).

[@sweetbeeart]

My veg garden is mixed with plants pollinators love. This brings many pollinators in my garden pollinating my veggies as well🦋🐝🌻

[@aidanallen783]

I got your book in the mail today and i have al ready read over half of it. Love it so much and it’s going to help me and my garden so much

[@robdavis1176]

Luke get a honey bee hive and put it on your property. Care for them through the winter and make sure they don't get any mite's. Come down here to SWF I get 5 honey bee removal calls a day. I'm sure you can pick out any one you like. No charge.

[@dianaliberty3099]

Very useful information. I find very few pollinators at my plants and I have to resort to hand pollination. I went hungry this 2019 summer. I will increase flower plants next year. Thanks Luke.

[@midsouthhomestead9180]

Thanks for your information. I plant a lot of flowers that attract pollinators.

[@VaveeDances]

Native solitary bees are the primary pollinators of my garden here in the Southwest. They do an amazing job....no honey bees or bumblebees around here.

[@thetitanian5544]

Sad because a lot of bumblebees are Native

[@fimelis]

Thank you for this post I was noticing a pollinator problem and initially figured they were so distracted by my crepe myrtles in the front yard that they were not interested in going to the back at all. But I can agree there was a definite lack of diversity even with my garden flourishing and throwing out a lot of blooms. Getting no product was very disappointing. Just a few small peppers. I even tried hand pollinating my summer squash. This gives me ideas for next spring.

[@timan2039]

Build a bee hotel for solitary bees to encourage them to hang out and happily pollinate some flowers.

[@stitchinggirl]

Yes it is very easy to make mason bee homes.

[@LM01234]

Great idea

[@adriankap2978]

I put up 3 different home/hotel and they didn't use them. I filed the inside the bamboo tubes so there's nothing scarp or anything to keep them from resting.

[@AnimeShinigami13]

I've seen wasps and bees that aren't honey bees or bumble bees that are small enough to fit comfortably on my pinky fingernail. They really seem to like the pitted brick surface of my apartment building. Also one flower that we have at the community garden this year that's driving the monarchs insane is a Mexican sunflower. Its got so many blossoms, we only have one but the monarchs circle around it going from flower to flower to flower. Our milkweed actually attracted a butterfly caterpillar this year and I credit the Mexican sunflower. Also some flowers are better than others to pollinators in general. They don't like most tea roses for example because its harder to get at the pollen and nectar under all those petals. But flowers like anise hyssop, with multiple nectar production points, and flowers like cosmos with open and exposed nectar and pollen production points are more "interesting" to pollinators. Finally, get flowers outside as early as you possibly can. When they wake up, bumble bees are very very hungry. Willow and forsythia are really good flowers for this. For small spaces try snow drops and crocuses. Those are the four earliest flowers I can think of this early. Recently, I found out what cabbage worms pollinate... just as an FYI. A Chinese family up the street from the community garden grows bitter melon. Its blooming atm, and the cabbage white butterflies, which are the adult form of cabbage worms, are going CRAZY near it!!!

[@simpleperrydiselife]

Great video.Thank you so much. One thing I do is buy seeds and plants that are labeled as #attractspollinators. I can hardly pass on buying them. Especially if they are on sale. My vegetable garden and fruit forest are also pollinators garden. Thank you!

[@nancywebb6549]

I live in east TN my garden has been covered with carpenter bees all season. A big patch of Zinnias were very popular with lots of pollinators. So was Mexican Sunflowers and they last until frost.

[@TravelAgentCale]

I have learned so much from watching all of your videos throughout the years. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@IrenePGriego]

Thank you, In the spring I had several bees and in the summer in Texas I have not seen many and was afraid that my growing garden was not being pollinated but I do see moths, butterflies and ants. I feel a little better.

[@aletamekvold8005]

Agastache (hyssop) draws lots of pollinators! And thyme that has went to flower. They LOVE that!! Mustard greens that have went to flower are also a good source for pollinators. This year the chive blooms drew lots and lots of butterflies! I'm still learning my new area so learning what plants to plant! But the number of different flying pollinators that I've seen in the last couple of summers has been amazing. I just learned this year what Luke mentioned with the pollinators liking to stick to one type of flower at a time, had no clue! And ants... soooo many ants in this area since it's pretty much straight sand.

[@sowmanyseedlings]

Just watched one of the Stivers latest videos and they mentioned that your seed stock is empty because youve got 30 seed package grab bags for sale in your store, for only 10$!! Funny that I was just looking at what you had available only a few days ago and didnt notice the grab bags at that time. Ordered two just now lol! I am soo excited! This is the first time buying anything from you and I feel like this is the going to be one of the most exciting parcels I receive this year! 60 packages of seeds for 20$!?!?!? Luke, I cant even 🤯🤩

[@apexacres8968]

This is great! It’s so good to let people know that honey bees aren’t the only pollinator. There is a plethora of pollinators out there 😊.

[@stitchinggirl]

I am also a beekeeper so I do get lots of honey bees in my veggies. If the clover flowers and my flowering tree are blooming the numbers do go down a bit. I do keep mason bee homes all around to help them. Clover honey is good...but very sweet.

[@evangelineking3930]

I enjoyed your video. I farmed for 10 yrs and had a veg. stand and I didn't know some of the things you said. Thanks!

[@donnac.3268]

OMG! thank you for this vedio, got a new green house in growing in and new to gardening this way.. been worried I have only seen 1bee but yeppie I see lots of ants and some moths and a couple butterflies, hope is not lost and I'll be giving some of those plants a daily shake as well. There is SO MUCH TO LEARN.

[@Freedom2025-x2b]

Just what I needed as a newbie gardener in Florida 9b

[@desmonddixon957]

Man I didn't know ants as pollinators wow. Learned something new today thanks for sharing

[@dlhewitt2873]

I enjoyed the video. Thanks for always sharing your knowledge. I don't know if it is true but my grandmother always said she would not have any peonies if she didn't have any ants. I received my MI Gardener garlic order and I am impatiently waiting for the soil temperature to drop so I can plant it.

[@josiahjames2369]

Trust me, I respecting the effort. Thank you for sharing/teaching. It helps!

[@ordinarynini]

KZbin finally recommended a channel I want to watch. Started watching while gathering seed from peppers.

[@exotic9022]

Hi everyone sadly my growing season ended a few days ago all I had was 2 tomato plants in pots but I still got like 50 cherry tomatoes I was so happy. Next spring we’re putting a 3 by 12 foot raised bed. I’m so exited but I think my dog will eat my plants any ideas also I’m only 12 so I was super happy with my harvest. Currently we just planted some lettuce so I’m soooooo exited for that to grow thanks for the ideas to keep my dog out she is a golden retriever lab mix

[@danielramos8831]

I planted one zuccini, one cucumber and one eggplant. The zucchini flowered a couple times and yet nothing was produced 😭 I have a bunch of pepper plants and those are doing well. No peppers but they’re on the way. Now I know next year how to plant

[@Godsprodicaldaughter]

So blessed with all you share! Thank you Luke! ❤️

[@shirleyk623]

I plant flowers in with my vegetables and I use a hummingbird feeder that the bees absolutely love.☺🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@daledurbin2354]

I lived on the 44th floor of a building, I was amazed at the flies that buzzed the window screens that high up. Honey bees are dyeing off, I've began pollinating all my veggies and fruit trees that I can. I'm seeing fewer and fewer bees. Ants have taken over my Okra and they aren't friendly, they'er Fire Ants!

[@AnimeShinigami13]

so... look up hover flies. and what they like. google search it. hover flies are pollinators and flies. also try coriander for small stingless wasps called aphidius wasps. again, tiny pollinators that are hard to see, and their larvae eat aphids alien style from the inside out.

[@georgemueller8066]

Have you investigated getting some mason bees?

[@daledurbin2354]

@@georgemueller8066 I don't know Mason Bees, I do have a family of Carpenter Bees that enjoy drilling into my cedar supports and rafters of my patio, They seem to have a particular liking for shovel, rake, hoe handles, it always seems to be right where my hand grabs the handle. Had one stink me on the palm when I grabbed a rake handle to do some work. Powerful sting it was.

[@earthisflat]

Who told u honey bees are dying off? I can tell u from my experience in my garden they are thriving in fact in my area honey bees during the summer can be a real problem due to how many there are

[@itsokaytobeclownpilled5937]

I accidentally left a bowl out near my garden. When the rain filled it up with water, giant spiders and really weird looking bugs kamikazeed themselves into to the bowl. Btw, I don’t understand why the birds aren’t eating the slugs. Something is killing the aphids on my cabbage and kale, but leaving behind their little corpses.

[@servihomestead4324]

Great info, as always, Luke. I didn't realize that there were many other bugs that pollinate plants. It's good to know.

[@elevatedearthlings8961]

Thank you Luke for all your awesome videos and great advice! I live in MA (same zone, yay!) and starting my garden soon (with garlic and shallots) thanks to your clear instructions on building raised beds and planting/spacing I feel so confident and excited to start my garden! 💚🌱

[@caterinaliberatore9478]

They love sedum, veronica, wood aster and monarda to name a few. Keeping my vegetables still flowering for the pollinators. Luke that is a great point about growing more than one plant for bees.

[@bungiecoocoo]

When I grew my pepper plants my first pollinators were gnats and ants. Florida.

[@lauriemclean1131]

Great info -- thank you. Sorry you had to get rained on to share it this with us, tho. Still needing rain pretty desperately in the southern MO Ozarks. Can't help being a little envious watching it rain there. ☔

[@ILoveTheMoodyBlues]

Hi Luke! That was fascinating and very helpful information. Stuff I never even thought about before. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge like you always do!!

[@jayricks8938]

I see alot of sweat bees around my meyer lemon and keylime. I also bought some veronica speedwell and put near those

[@trumpzilla4193]

Great content - I need to plant way more spring flowers!

[@lynutermark1454]

Thanks Luke this was very informative for me.

[@misslee617]

O.M.G!.Thank you so much.. I have learned a lot about way my garden isn't being pollinated.

[@MrBDezno]

Definitely got some ideas about why my one single zucchini plant isn't producing. Plus? Maybe I need to mow down the clover in my yard. Thanks for this video.

[@T289c]

Honeybees only pollinate about 30% of the food we eat. They Love going to Tree Flowers because of the Abundance. 2 million flowers are required to produce just one pound of honey. Bumble Bees are the BEST Pollinators in the Garden. They go to every flower.

[@aidanallen783]

Also I live in SC and it’s still super hot and I’m struggling to get my kale mustard greens etc to grow any tips I’m going to Roland soon.

[@gtaguy105]

Fellow South Carolinian here, my lettuce and cabbage are suffering dearly in this sweltering heat as well. The only things we can really do are put up shade cloths. If you crops show any sign of going to see to, go ahead and snip off the early flower formation. This will be my first fall season, and this information is just from the things I've gathered from this channel and other KZbinrs / websites.

[@aidanallen783]

The Manus Man thanks yeah. Hopefully this cool weekend will help and it will keep cool instead of it in the 90s

[@paulg9820s]

Turning on your sprinklers as the day warms or misting over your greens can also help tremendously. I'm also down in SC, can't wait for this cool whether ahead of us. Long overdue!

[@Just-Nikki]

CanITryToGet 1000SubsWithoutAnyVideos shade clothe and planting in a shadier microclimate in your yard has worked well for me.

[@aidanallen783]

Paul Geary Ok thanks rlly helping

[@emani_tube2598]

You know what's crazy. I had some Random purple plant that produced many flowers, and I had some random flying insect always visited it every morning. Even though it was just one plant. And it was up on my balcony. Even though it had only one pollenator I still aperciated it.

[@TheSuburbanGardenista]

So many great points - thank you for sharing!

[@jadeemerson301]

You’re such a dorky, but cute guy! I love your videos!

[@markshaw5835]

I always learn some think watching your videos. I've already planned to plant kore flower got next year

[@denisebrady6858]

Luke excellent video- I am having to hand pollinate at the moment as this year there is fewer pollinators that I have seen but they will come as I have plenty to invite them here- Love your videos as I learn so much- most of the other channels I also watch are doing these Live Shows where we learn nothing, they just look at a computer screen & say "HI" to everyone that comes on. Sorry not for me as I need to learn. Cheers Denise - Australia

[@johnnumbat9782]

Thanks for the excellent information about bees and other pollinators - I had no idea about their techniques and preferences - I was told to pull my pyrethrum plants out of the cottage garden here in South Australia because they’re toxic to bees - is this true? It would be a shame to lose the stunning daisy flowers each summer - the plant is used as a natural insecticide and 2/3rds of the worlds supply comes from NW Tasmania where I lived for a few years and I would expect the annual crops would rely on pollinators to keep producing more plants and flowers? - John in SA

[@danjackson7758]

talking theoretically here, to follow your example of a plot totally surrounded by cornfields for miles around.....would it be feasible to import lots of pollinators to your plot either by keeping a hive and capturing a few pollinators from elsewhere (eg: hoverflies, butterflies solitary bees ) ? i'm thinking of things from two angles: 1. the size your plot would need to be to totally sustain them all in perpetuity? 2. would it be impossible to sustain things over longer timescales because of lack of genetic diversity.

[@Mulljackson]

ill be buying some seed from you later this year. loving the channel lately.

[@Aldrichfernandez62]

Great knowledge

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Will bees poke whole in tomatoes? I am in Ontario Canada and now the tomatoes are just about done, and I am noticing little peck holes on them My tomato is still eatable but ther are little peck whole .I thought birds but I don’t think so the hole is too small?Thank you

[@hypat1aa]

No. Caterpillars are usually the culprit. Armyworms and the hornworms are what I wage war on. Sometimes wasps will eat fruits when ripe, the German yellowjacket is well known for that. But they usually go for sweeter fruit. If the holes are in green tomatoes, look for caterpillars or stinkbugs.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Robin Miller Thank you . No there is nothing on the tomatoes, and it is still fine and ripe enough to eat or almost ripeBut there isn’t any thing on the fruit or in the fruitThat is why I thought it to be a bird.But the tomatoes is still hanging on the vine not all beat up.

[@TheMzTR]

This makes sense! Tks for sharing this information with us

[@albertvdm]

My Tomato plants do something funny, they make flower cluster as usual but then at the tip of the flower cluster it makes a few leaves and then create another flower cluster. Does any one else have a tomato plant that does that? It is grown from seeds that came from a volunteer plant. I don't even find anything when I google. If It keeps doing that I am going to have a crazy productive plant. Its not cherry tomato's, they get quite large.

[@cy4330]

I have an organic garden with all kinds of pests like aphids, white fly, scale, powdery mildew, you name it but very few beneficial insects and pollinators. I don't see ladybugs at all. Everyday I see only two to three stingless bees visiting my grape vines and bitter gourd. I know the main reason is probably they died due to rampant pesticides used by local farmers. So I have no choice I intend to raise stingless bees soon. Most of my garden fruits are seedless due to not being pollinated. It's very disheartening to see the imbalances in our eco system.

[@valboni5709]

Excellent info.

[@duallinguallady-aishaahmed1812]

Can you grow sweet potatoes in a container during the winter months? I live in zone 6b.

[@ameisherry]

Butterflies 🦋 love my watermelon flowers

[@Mgtow_Monk]

Still looking for info on why the fertilizer you sell is not the same as the one in the Ad. I bought a big bag of it and would like to know the reason for reducing the contents.

[@shellyrees5946]

Question Luke.....so I've got some deep raised beds and the ants LOVE to nest in there. Every year I'm digging up their nests and tossing them to another are of the yard. I've also heard they can carry away seeds. So am I doing myself a disservice by removing them if they're a great pollinator? Garden-critter-columdrums~~~~

[@thekat268]

Shelly Rees. I heard the quote, ants are nature's little rototillers. Fire ants are not native and dnt help at all. Something else I read, ants will capture aphids, tear their wings off and place them on a plant to get the juices and milk them when they return. Kind of like keeping cows. I dnt think aphids are good for plants. I'll hv to look up that one.

[@growyourhappiness2207]

@@thekat268 That's true about ants and aphids, if you see a lot of ants on a leafy plant that's a sign the plant is in trouble.

[@Digitalhunny]

We need more spaces for bumbles bees to nest in, nearer to our gardens.

[@regenerated4life]

We had ever so many dragonflies visit our garden and it was a lovely sight.

[@charlesbale8376]

Enjoyed the video, great information.

[@raaven3690]

Thank you

[@barbaracarter9120]

What kinds of flowers are best pollinators

[@nancywebb6549]

A big patch of tall Zinnias or Mexican sunflowers, blue Salvia, marigolds, Korean Hyssop.

[@barbaracarter9120]

Nancy Webb thank you so much

[@trfisher78]

I've never seen a honey bee in my garden. Bumble Bees are my main pollinator.

[@ericluu812]

Plant more native plants!

[@CrunchyPotato_-el3fy]

I have 5 huge flower bushes next next to my windowsill, a bee colony (actually im not really sure what they are😂) have now built 3 large yellowish homes all over the outside of my house lol

[@stk57thst]

Makes sense with the ants. I had a trail come to my 3rd floor patio. 👍🏿

[@mollypitcher9380]

You’re smart!!

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Does cauliflower need pollinators?

[@Peachcreekmedia]

Got stung by 10 bees after weed whipping their nest. We have plenty!

[@yhc5318]

Are you sure it was bees not hornets or wasps? I have about 100 bees at any given time in my garden. Never been stung once. In fact I actually pet the bumblebee bees...and they just go about doing their thing. However I did get stung by a hornet as I shopvaced a whole nest. Killed about 150 of them.

[@caterinaliberatore9478]

Why did you hit their nest? Of course you get stung if you attack their home.

[@S1D1T1DO]

Why not provide the host plants that butterflies develop on? Provide habituate for the insects that will pollinate your flowers. Plant an oak tree, plant goldenrod, native viburnums. Go to www.nwf.org/nativeplantfinder/ and learn what plants are the most productive in your area.

[@jaylils]

What's that plant or tree that smells like a California pepper ? It's been driving me crazy, I wanna grow it. It's really strong at night. Cheers! Love the channel!

[@domenicrenzetti1855]

How did you get that wire mesh trellis?

[@ItsAlwaysSummer]

That's a cattle panel trellis. They are beautiful when covered in green plants and very sturdy.

[@gwynethgaspari6255]

Didn't know ants are pollinators. Glad to see them all over my plants then.

[@hypat1aa]

Honeybees aren't my pollinators. Wasps, butterflies, moths, flies, ants, and native bees are.

[@georgemueller8066]

On behalf of Ed Wilson, thanks for the shout out for ants.

[@cateyelizabeth85]

Okay thats good news about the ants. I was worried about my watermelon plants since I havent seen any bees but ive definitely noticed some ants lol

[@angelaguilar9222]

I see more flies and some kinda bee (idk what kind but it's not a bumblebee or a honeybee).

[@nancywebb6549]

Could be a Carpenter bee.

[@angelaguilar9222]

@@nancywebb6549 it looks like a smaller slender bumblebee still has the little hairs

[@Tru2THEE]

How to attract more butterflies and hummingbirds than bees, bees, bees here in Michigan?

[@JoannaMBaker]

My stepfather showed me that he placed hummingbird feeders lower to the ground for the last 3 years and has great results

[@nancywebb6549]

Mexican sunflowers and tall Zinnias.

[@lauriescozycorner]

Nancy is right, tall zinnias. I started planting then three years ago and and each year I have more butterflies, they also attract hummingbirds. You can also plant milkweed to attract monarch butterflies. It may take a year but once they come you need to keep planting them or they won't keep coming.

[@pulangtuldok]

thank you cutie. 😘

[@KimWilsonTV]

There is also the grave issue that the chemtrails are killing all the bees....bees are very low in numbers

[@UtahSustainGardening]

I get so much more action on my squash from squash bees than I ever do from honeybees.

[@littledotti]

I planted flowers first. 6 months prior to growing food. Still have no bees. Sigh.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

I thought tomatoes are self pollinating?

[@ottobettcher7025]

cross pollinating a tomato with a pumpkin , now that would be a tomato.

[@PaleGhost69]

Deja Vu? Didn't you do a similar video last year?

[@fizzypop1858]

Mason bees are amazing pollinators and are native to the US, so honey bees are great, but Mason bees are, too.

[@luceflores9321]

❤🌼