Fall isn’t the end of the gardening calendar. Far from it, actually, as it’s one of the most important times for green-fingered types and critters alike – which means there are a number of things gardeners forget to do in September, particularly when it comes to looking out for pollinators.
Now, we all know that creating a pollinator garden should be top of our list of priorities – especially considering all the recent news around our shifting climate. That being said, there’s an extra reason to lend a hand to all the native bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial bugs as they search for food and shelter over the colder months. And, somewhat selfishly, it’s this: what helps them helps you, too.
That’s right: a pollinator-friendly garden is, quite simply, a better garden all round, whether that’s richer soil, stronger plants, and heaps more fabulous springtime color. It’s not as simple as filling your backyard with pollinator-friendly plants and letting them buzz about in the summer; you have to put the work in over the fall, too.
From leaving a few stems standing to planting late-season nectar sources, there are several things to do in September to support pollinators and give your garden a much-needed boost at the same time.
With that in mind, then, here are five easy wins to tick off before fall really sets in.
1. Step Away From the Pruners
When you’re gardening with native plants, there’s a lot of maintenance to keep on top of… or is there? Here’s the thing; while pruning is great for a tidy garden, and deadheading is a must for long lasting blooms, it can often be just as helpful to leave things be.
“Don’t cut back perennial stems in the fall, as a lot of insects overwinter in the chambers of these stems,” warns Andrew Bunting, VP of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and author of The Plant Lover's Guide To Magnolias (available on Amazon).
“If they need to be cut back, you can stack the stems with the bases facing outwards to create ‘habitat piles’,” he adds.
For those who are simply itching to get out their pruning snips, there is another option: install a DIY insect “hotel” or buy one ready-made. Something like Walmart’s Wildlife Friend Premium Weatherproof Insect Hotel could be perfect!
2. Plant Fall-Blooming Perennials
Don’t hold back on the fall-flowering plants – particularly perennials; it’s one of the easiest things to do in September to support pollinators and keep your garden thriving.
“You want to make sure there is a good pollen and nectar source heading into the fall,” says Andrew, who recommends planting native asters and goldenrods for this very purpose.
You can choose from a large variety of asters at Nature Hills. Or, you can pick up an Organic Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) from Walmart.
3. Leave the Leaves
We’ve all seen the memes doing the rounds on Instagram, right? The ones which confidingly state that they ‘don’t know who needs to hear this, but you don’t need to pick up every fallen leaf’ from your garden? Yes, they’re correct; fall leaf management could be so much easier for all of us if we decided to just… opt out.
“Choosing not to remove leaves from garden beds in the fall provides a cosy habitat for overwintering insects,” says Andrew, who points out that the leaves act as mulch, too.
Leaving the leaves, then, isn’t just an easy thing to do for pollinators this September; it’s a lazy hack for gardeners who want to condition their soil, too!
4. Set Up a Water Source
Setting up a pollinator water station might feel like a summer job, but critters get just as thirsty over the colder months, too. Now, you could buy Walmart’s Outdoor Bee Water Feeder Tray with Foam, but “even just a low pan of water or a bird bath is a good source of water for late-season bees and butterflies,” says Andrew.
Just be sure to add a few pebbles and stones for bugs to land on, and keep refilling with clean water, if you really want to nail this thing to do in September to support pollinators like a pro.
5. Steer Clear of Tropical Milkweed
We know that many gardeners have been planting milkweed to try to help the monarchs, and, while this is a good thing to do in September to support pollinators, it’s important you avoid planting tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica).
Why? Because this plant is actually a big problem for butterflies, disrupting their migration patterns and tampering with their reproduction process. Neither of which is good news if you’re trying to conserve a rapidly declining species…
Of course, there is always more you can do for pollinators; for example, Andrew recommends removing a small part of your lawn and filling it with pollinator-friendly plants instead to increase biodiversity.
Little and often, though, is the easiest way to spark change. Try to keep on top of all the things gardeners forget in September (but pollinators need), then, and watch all of the local critters flock to your backyard over the coming months.
Birdsong over breakfast? Buzzing pollinators improving the health of your plot? Soil conditioned for free? We promise, you won't regret a single thing...
