We do a lot of work in our pollinator-friendly garden located at the Liberty County Community Complex in Midway. The reading garden is shaping up to be very good. We are preparing it to be certified as a butterfly garden. KLB works with several summer camps and programs to spread the word about the importance of having gardens and the importance of our pollinator friends. Some people may think that they don’t have a green thumb (like me) or that they don’t have the space or time to garden. Here are some great gardening ideas you can use at home.

Elizabeth Flaherty wrote an article, “24 Genius Gardening Hacks, You’ll Be Glad To Know” It was fascinating read, especially if you’re like us here at Keep Liberty Beautiful. You live the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle lifestyle. She has given such a wide variety of uses for old sponges, toilet paper rolls, recycled aluminum cans and much more. Here are a few ideas that I hope you find useful.

Potted landscaping design: Have you ever wished you could revamp your garden after seeing what mature plants look like? Here is a smart way to do it. You will need several pots of the same size so that they fit together. Put your plants in lined containers, then bury them at ground level. Whenever you want to change, take out the top jar and place it in another. This method is also very convenient for bringing plants indoors during the winter. This method is also great for changing seasonal plants quickly and makes it easy to experiment with the color and placement of plants and flowers.

Save the floor with old cans: For deep planters, fill the bottom with old tin cans and flower pots. Cans and pots improve drainage and create air pockets for better aeration and healthier soil.

Cardboard seed tubes: For an easy, eco-friendly way to start seeds, save your toilet paper and paper towel tubes. Cut the tubes into 2-inch lengths and place them in a waterproof tray. Fill the tubes with potting soil and plant your seeds. When the seedlings are ready to move into the garden, plant them directly into their cardboard tube. The cardboard will decompose. Make sure to keep the tube below the surface of the soil so that it does not absorb moisture from the roots.

Healthy plant hydration: Water that settles on the bottom of the pots can cause root rot. To combat this problem, cut out old sponges and place them at the bottom of the pot. The sponges retain moisture and create the necessary air space. They also help prevent water from draining to the bottom. The sponge acts as a water reserve and keeps the soil moist longer. These hacks have helped reduce the yellow spots Ms. Pyles has seen appearing from improper watering.

This week is National Pollinator Week, from June 21, 2021 to June 27, 2021, so let’s talk about all the free services that our bees, butterflies and other local pollinators provide for our gardens to thrive. Pollinators are so crucial to our environment. Ms. Lisa Choeun, the KLB Volunteer Coordinator, has planned many great activities. Please visit our website www.keeplibertybeautiful.org and the Facebook page for more information.

What is pollination? Well, in layman’s terms, pollination is the transfer of pollen into and between flowers of the same species that starts fertilization, which ends in the successful production of a plant! The excellent work of pollinators gives us the food we put on the table and the simple smile we get when we see a beautiful flower bloom.

This week we’re celebrating everything pollinators do! Here are some ideas to make the job of pollinators easier:

1. Plant a pollinator-friendly garden with various flowering plants to give a succession of blooms from spring to fall.
2. Include lots of native plants in your garden.
3. Include plants to nourish all stages of the pollinator life cycle.
4. Minimize the use of pesticides, even organic.
5. Go wild and plant lots of wildflowers!
6. Provide a source of water.
7. Don’t be too orderly. Let your garden be as natural as possible without harming your plants
8. Building bee shelters
9. Most importantly, spread the word, share your knowledge.

Pollinators would just appreciate the little things we can do from this list. KLB, throughout the week, will be providing free pollinator planting kits to help you start your garden. You can go to our Facebook page and sign up to get one. We also have contests and other giveaways scheduled. To learn more about Pollinator Week or to sign up for a kit, check out the Keep Liberty Beautiful Facebook page. You can also contact us at (912) 880-4888 or klcb@libertycountyga.com.