Summary of Tips for Gardening for Pollinators:

• Leave the leaves in your garden---they will provide valuable overwintering habitat for insects and other wildlife while also providing nutrients to your soil as they decompose

• Stack some rocks---these rocks can provide habitat for ground nesting bees like the eastern bumble bee

• Leave your garden untrimmed---the Xerces Society suggests that you wait until temperatures are consistently above 50 F before cutting back perennials in the spring. Check out this great article by Justin Wheeler for more information.

• Leave your soil alone---that's right, you heard me; don't turn your soil in every section of your garden, you could be disturbing ground-nesting bee habitat

• NEVER use herbicides or pesticides---if the ecosystem in your yard is healthy, you will not have to worry about protecting your yard from weeds or pests, the native plants and insects they attract will do the work for you