Pollinator Plantings: Urban
Gardening in urban spaces can pose unique challenges, but these areas can still support pollinators and other beneficial insects in our environment. Some common challenges facing urban gardeners are: lack of space, dry, sandy, or highly compacted soil with low organic matter, urban infrastructure that limits the planting of trees or large shrubs, lots of sun or heat island effects, dense shade from buildings or large trees.
Use the guide, or a combination of guides, that best fit your situation to get started on incorporating native plants in your yard or parking strip. These guides focus on plants that are easy to grow, and available for purchase, but, as with any gardening project you may need to do some trial and error to find what works in your space. Although many of the plants found in the guides are common in meadow plantings you do not have to limit yourself to just growing a meadow. You can mix in native shrubs and trees as you have space, o. Enjoy watching your plants grow and seeing the butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects that visit your yard! You may not see them yet but if you plant it, they will come.
Sunny and Dry Pollinator Garden
Low Maintenance Pollinator Garden
Neat and Tidy Pollinator Garden
Shady and Dry Pollinator Garden
Pollinator Plantings: Farm
KCD Farm Service
Wildflower Strips Increase Pollinator Visits to Crops
NRCS: Supporting Pollinators
Pierce Conservation District – Hedgerow Resources
Pollinator Plantings: Forest and Riparian (Streamside
Our native woodland plants do an amazing job of supporting local pollinators – any restoration project that promotes native plants and works to control weeds will benefit pollinators. You can find more KCD resources about restoration and native plants at the following links:
KCD Riparian Services
KCD Forestry Services
Site preparation and creating and maintaining a pollinator meadow
Xerces – Establishing a Meadow from Seed
West Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District – Meadowscaping Handbook
Getting Native Plants
KCD Native Plant Sale and other Resources
KCD Native Plant Nursery List
Supporting Pollinators
5 Ways to Support Pollinators
Native Pollinator Habitat Restoration Guide from EarthCorps
Xerces – Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects: Maritime NW
Xerces – Impacts of Common Organic Pesticides on Invertebrates
Seattle Times article about replacing your lawn