Pollinators’ Importance in Landscaping
Pollinators need to be protected and supported in the landscape, as evidenced by concerns about honeybee populations and monarch butterfly migration. To comprehend the significance of pollinators, one must first comprehend pollination. There are two types of pollination: self-pollination, which occurs when a plant pollinates itself without the assistance of animals, wind, or water, and cross-pollination, which occurs when a plant pollinates itself with the assistance of animals, wind, or water.
Cross-pollination accounts for the majority of pollination, with animal-assisted pollination accounting for about 75%. Pollination is required for fruit development and seed production, as well as the improvement of some fruit qualities (such as tomato). Almost all fruit and grain crops farmed in the United States (over 150 crops!) require pollination. The USDA estimates that pollinator-dependent crops are worth more than $10 billion per year.
Landscaping services have a direct impact on pollinator communities, but they can also influence abundance and richness by interacting with other factors such as changing climate or increased chemical inputs in land management.
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