A website from UGA Cooperative Extension

Communicating the science of farming and gardening to Jackson County

The tiny yet mighty creatures that buzz around in our gardens are responsible for pollinating nearly 80 percent of flowering plants around the world. Although honey bees tend to get all of the attention, there are over 200,000 species of animal pollinators that contribute to healthy ecosystems.

Many of the fruits, vegetables and nuts grown in the U.S. are pollinated. The critical role pollinators play in our food system provides us with a wide range of foods that should not be taken for granted.

Declines in pollinator populations around the world have continued due to many environmental stressors, but simple tweaks to our gardens can make a huge contribution to the health of these populations.

Promoting pollinator health is not only beneficial for the insects, but it can benefit your garden as well by promoting growth in fruits and vegetables.

A few steps we can take to promote the health of pollinator populations are to create pollinator habitats by growing native plants, installing bee boxes and making bee baths in our gardens. It is also important to pay attention to the “bee toxicity” information on pesticide labels if no other pest management strategy is available.

To learn more about what you can do to promote the health of pollinators, visit https://extension.uga.edu/topic-areas/timely-topics/pollinators.html

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