Dennis vanEngelsdorp Honey Bee Epidemiology Lab
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Adopt a Polliantor Garden 

The "Adopt a Pollinator Garden" is an outreach and education program encouraging UMD departments and offices to plant and maintain pollinator-friendly gardens.

The program is currently piloting a pollinator garden at the UMD Arboretum. The vanEnglesdorp Bee Lab adopted the Native Bee Wall and Garden (pictured below). 

Download our garden establishment guide and pollinator planting lists to create your own pollinator haven! 
Establish a Pollinator Garden
File Size: 157 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Planting List
File Size: 65 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture
Picture
Picture

Establishing a Pollinator Garden

STEP 1: SITE SELECTION
Selecting a good site is crucial for the success of a pollinator garden. The site should be close to the people responsible for its maintenance for ease and accessibility. The site should be relatively visible both to pedestrians for public awareness and to those maintaining it for weed monitoring.

STEP 2: SITE EVALUATION & PLANT SELECTION
  • It’s important to know the soil moisture and sun exposure of your chosen site. These two factors will help determine what plants will thrive in the area. 
  • Plant choice is
  • Plant in the spring through the summer for best results and plant establishment rates.

STEP 3: SITE PREPARATION & PLANTING
  • Clear the plot with shovels to loosen compacted soil and remove all weed root systems.
  • Cut “X”s in the weed barrier appropriate for the size of the plant.
  • Place plants in holes deeper than the plug to encourage root establishment and fill in gaps with loose soil.
  • Mulch around the plants for water retention and weed prevention. (Roughly one bag of mulch covers about 10 ft2 at a depth of 2.5 inches.)
  • Create a clear delineation of the garden boundaries with landscaping stones or other boundaries.
  • Add educational signage
  • Water regularly!

SITEP 4: MAINTENANCE
  • Immediately after planting, your new pollinator garden requires frequent watering to help the plants take root.
  • Weeding regularly will help keep the pollinator garden healthy and ascetically pleasing.
  • Enjoy the bees and butterflies your garden attracts! 

Pollinator Planting List 

All of these plants are native to Maryland. For best results, plant gardens so that at least three nectar sources are in bloom throughout the grow season. 
Scientific Name
Common Name
Bloom
Soil moisture
Sun
Rudbeckia hirt
Black-eyed susan 
Jun-Oct
​Medium to dry
​Sun to part shade
Aster novae-angliae​
New England Aster
Sep-Oct
​Medium to dry
​Sun to part shade
Asclepias tuberos
​Butterfly weed
May-Jun
​Medium to dry
Sun to part shade
Echinacea purpurea
​Purple coneflower 
Jun-Oct
​Medium to dry
​Sun to part shade
Monarda fistulosa
​Wild bergamot / bee balm
Jul-Aug
​Medium to dry
​Sun to part shade
Aster laevi
Smooth blue aster
Aug-Oct
Dry
Sun
Liatris spicat
Marsh blazing star
Aug-Oct
Wet to medium
Part shade
Solidago nemorali
Grey Goldenrod 
Jul-Nov
Dry 
Sun to part shade
Eupatorium dubium
Joe Pye weed
Jul-Sep
Wet to medium
Part shade to shade
Vernonia noveboracensi
New York Ironweed
Aug-Oct
Medium
Part shade
Baptisia tinctori
​Wild Indigo 
Jun-Sep
Dry 
Sun
Asclepias incarnata
Swamp Milkweed
May-Jun
Medium
Sun to part shade
Coreopsis tinctoria
Tickseed Sunflower
Jun-Sep
​Dry
Sun to part shade
Helianthus angustifolium
Swamp Sunflower
Aug-Oct
Wet to medium
Sun
Eupatorium rugosum
White snake root
Jun-Aug
Medium to dry
Part shade
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Common boneset
Jul-Oct
Wet to medium
Sun to part shade
Monarda punctata
Horsemint 
Jun-Oct
Dry
Sun
Solidago juncea
Early Goldenrod
Jun-Oct
Medium to dry
Sun
Chelone glabra* 
White turtlehead
Aug-Oct
Wet to medium
Part shade

Photo courtesy Of Devon Maloney