Wisconsin’s spring continues in April, the first month of the year when average minimum temperatures are above freezing. Total April precipitation (on average) increases after the winter months and shifts to mostly rain instead of snow. Early emerging plants green up and some trees, shrubs, and spring ephemerals bloom this month. Garden tasks include trimming old stems (leaving standing stems up to 18 inches tall), checking garden areas, and possibly planting bare root material. Our prescribed fire crew may burn a few garden units if conditions permit. If not, we will trim those areas.

Plants are not all that comes to life this month. With our emphasis on bee and pollinator conservation in the garden, we watch for early solitary bees and new bumble bee queens emerging in early April. Noting plant and bee phenology (the timing of natural events) documents variation from year to year and which critical floral resources are used in the earliest part of the flight season. Adding more of those early flowers to gardens and landscapes is just one important way to address a common question from gardeners and community members: “How can we help bees and pollinators?”

This month I’ll share gardening actions – small and large – that will help create and support habitat for pollinators.

Grow native plants. Native pollinators have evolved with native plants for millennia. There is a wide range of broad to specific relationships between pollinators and the plants they visit. Growing a diverse set of plants suitable to your site will provide more possibilities for generalist and specialist species. Native plants are also the basis of food webs in gardens and landscapes. Good pollination yields better fruits and seed production, which can expand native plant populations. Effective pollination provides seed sources for wildlife or seed harvest to plant new areas.

Add small or large areas of native plants to your landscape. You can grow native plants where turfgrass is removed or smothered, in flower beds, on boulevards, at woods edges, in strips along a vegetable garden, in small restorations, or even in containers. There is always room for at least one more native plant. Try planting native species you haven’t grown before. Start with just a few plants if space, time, or budget are limited.

Assess sunlight, soil type, and soil moisture to find suitable spots. Check plant lists to learn which sites are best for species you’d like to grow. Move plants if you notice that they aren’t thriving in one location (perhaps it is becoming too shady for a plant that needs full sun, or seeds of a shade-adapted species have germinated in full sun). Try to include plants that bloom at different times of year, ensuring a steady supply of pollen and nectar throughout the flight season.

When you buy plants, support local and regional nurseries that can provide detailed information about habitats and care for your new native plants. New native plant nurseries are springing up around the state, joining established ones as reliable sources.

Support nurseries that provide pesticide-free plants. Systemic insecticides, sometimes used in plant production, are harmful to pollinators that use the pollen and nectar – affecting navigation, behavior, colony health, and reproduction.

Visit local native plant gardens for inspiration and practical tips. Participate in a community gardening project where you can promote native plants in public spaces while learning and working with others.

Join a group that supports native plant or pollinator conservation. Financial support for local, regional, and national organizations provides resources for gardeners and broader advocacy.

As spring begins in earnest, watch for native plants and pollinators emerging. Throughout the season, discover and try new ways to support this life around us.

– Susan Carpenter, native plant garden curator