Some people would say that you cannot make a backyard beautiful and at the same time encourage pollination. But the opposite is true. It’s perfectly possible to have a beautiful, modern outdoor area that pollinators love just as much as you do, all you need to do is put a little bit more effort into it.
Why even care about pollinators, you ask? Well, aside from the fact that they’re so adorable it should be illegal, animals like birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds literally keep all of us alive. Without pollinators, we have no food, so it makes sense that you’d want to do your part for the environment and provide pollinators with a source of nourishment. But that’s not all pollinators do. They also help your garden thrive and they make your flowers more vibrant.
You don’t need a huge garden to keep pollinators happy, but if you have it – even better.
Let’s see how to design a space that’s sophisticated and buzzing with pollinators.
Choose the Plants
You’ll want to get plants that are useful, but that also look pretty. Think about what colors will match your backyard color scheme to make everything look intentional instead of random. Your garden should be kind of like a layered masterpiece, with some plants blooming early in the season, and others taking their time and blooming later, so there’s always something blossoming. This will keep your backyard beautiful and it will constantly attract pollinators.
If you’re worried about maintenance, choose plants that don’t need a lot of care and that are resistant to droughts, like lavender, Echinacea, and Salvia. They will bring structure and they also have very rich nectars that pollinators love.
Designing the Garden
The trick is to make your layout feel natural, but still organized.
First, define where your walkways will be, a deck, and stone borders so your garden has structure. You might be thinking to yourself, “Do I really need to find a deck builder near me to get a deck?” and, unless you’re a professional, that’s something you’ll have to do, yes. But a deck will transform your backyard and it looks incredibly stylish. Plus, it’s versatile and you can use it for pretty much anything.
Once you have the structure figured out, try to layer plants of different heights. Place low-growing flowers at the front, mid-sized ones in the middle, and tall plants and shrubs in the back to create a sense of depth and flow.
Lavender, Russian sage, and ornamental grasses are classy, and cornflowers, black-eyed Susans, and salvia will get you a steady flow of pollinators. If you want climbing plants, get clematis or honeysuckle and drape them over trellises or a pergola.
You can also add some sleek pavers and a water feature to make the space even more elegant.
Stylish Features Pollinators Love
Now, for some extra features that will look incredible and that is welcoming to all kinds of pollinators.
Pollinators Homes
Pollinators need to live somewhere, so why not in your backyard? Add a bee hotel or a butterfly house to help them have a place to rest while still keeping your backyard looking stylish. Both options look really clean and go excellent with contemporary spaces.
Instead of plain wooden boxes, get a modern bee hotel made of smooth wood or metal. Butterfly houses can also be very modern and fit into your decor instead of standing out.
These may be minor embellishments, but they’ll make your backyard very much one of a kind.
Eyecatching Pots and Raised Beds
A well-thought-out planter arrangement can render your backyard more structured in addition to integrating plants that pollinators like. Geometric planters are very popular right now, as are raised beds that separate different plants and make your garden look intentional.
A tiered arrangement looks stunning and it’s practical because it allows different flowers to bloom at different heights.
Pollinator-Friendly Lighting
Artificial lighting can disturb pollinators, so go for something soft, and warm (2500-3000 Kelvin). It’ll highlight the most beautiful aspects of your garden, without disturbing animals, especially nocturnal ones such as moths and other nighttime insects.
With paths and sitting areas, such warm light would cover/illuminate everything just enough without hijacking the whole garden.
Design Your Garden
Pollinators aren’t random, temporary visitors; they’re a crucial part of nature, meaning they’re also part of every garden. If you’re a reasonable person, you’ll welcome them and recognize that they bring movement, color, and life to your backyard. Aside from, you know, making sure that every other living thing on the planet has food.
If you put some thought into picking the plants and if you design your garden intentionally, it will look beautiful while also benefiting the world around you.
