02/25/2025
🚨 WARNING: Your yard cleanup could wipe out an entire generation of native pollinators! 🐝
SURPRISING FACTS:
80% of native bees nest in dead plant stems.
A single stem can house up to 20 pollinator larvae.
Early cleanup destroys 6 months of bee development.
Native bees contribute $2000 per yard in pollination.
What’s Really Living in Your "Messy" Yard:
Hidden Residents:
Mason bee cocoons
Leafcutter bee nests
Native wasp larvae
Beneficial predator eggs
Critical Areas to Protect:
🌿 Hollow plant stems
🍂 Leaf litter piles
🌱 Standing perennials
🌸 Seed heads
How to Help:
Delay cleanup until May.
Leave stems at 15" height.
Create brush piles.
Mark areas designated for pollinators.
ACTION PLAN:
✅ Pause all cleanup until temperatures consistently reach 50°F.
✅ Bundle and store cut stems.
✅ Establish "pollinator corners."
✅ Educate your neighbors.
