NC State Team Releases Free Guide for Building Pollinator Habitats on Farms

A team from NC State University, NC Cooperative Extension, and the NC Botanical Garden created a guide that helps farmers and landowners build pollinator habitats. Free to download, this resource walks readers through site selection, plant choices, prep work, installation, and upkeep aimed at supporting bee populations that have been dropping.

The team secured a two-year grant from the US Department of Agriculture's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. They studied pollinator and beneficial insect habitats on working farmland. Researchers pulled lessons from their fieldwork and turned them into practical advice for anyone wanting to start pollinator plantings.

North Carolina hosts at least 564 different bee species. Habitat loss has driven pollinator numbers down in recent years, but planting areas with flowers can help local bee communities bounce back fast.

The guide divides habitat creation into five main steps. First comes site selection. Pick sunny spots near crops but away from traffic, like field edges or woodlines. Then, plant selection. Mix species that bloom from March through November. Also, choose different colors, shapes, and sizes to attract various pollinators.

Site prep means removing turf and whatever's growing there now. Methods include solarization, smothering with cardboard, tilling, pulling by hand, or applying herbicides. Most native plants do better without soil amendments, the guide explains.

Plugs work best when planted in the fall, late October through November, giving roots time to settle before winter arrives. Seeds should be scattered after the last frost passes. Space plants 12 inches apart.

The guide lists plant species, shows layout designs, and links to other helpful resources. Hannah Levenson from NC State Extension led the work on this handout. Anyone can download it from the NC State Extension Pollinator Portal.