Cover Story
Pollinator Stewardship and the Green Industry
Figure 1: “American robins rely on hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) fruit, along with other fruit and insects, and in turn they disperse seeds.” Photo credit: Laura Russo
Trystan Bordeau, UT Extension Intern Amy Fulcher, UT Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Nursery Production Laura Russo, UT Assistant Professor – Entomology
The
Green Industry benefits in many ways from a healthy pollinator community. For example, plants bearing fruit, such as blueberries, are often preferred by garden center customers. Recognizing the many types of pollinators and identifying practical ways to support them is good for pollinators, good for your clients, and good for your business! Pollination is an ecosystem service that allows plants to produce seeds and fruit and is essential for plant reproduction. Pollinators support urban landscapes by fostering fruit production, which in turn helps wildlife thrive (Figure 1). More than 200,000 animal species, including bees, butterflies, bats, and birds, can act as pollinators by moving pollen between flowers (Figure 2). Understanding and adopting pollinator-safe practices during nursery production and in managed landscapes and retail settings has wide-reaching implications for the Green Industry.
Ecosystem Services Definition: Services performed by organisms in the natural environment and functioning ecosystems that positively affect human health and well-being. The 4 main categories of service are producing (food and water), regulating (reducing/preventing flooding), supporting (nutrient cycles, generating oxygen for animals to breathe) and cultural (spiritual connections, recreation).
The potential to affect pollinators through landscape practices entered the public eye following highly publicized bee deaths that appeared connected to a pesticide application in an urban landscape. In response to the increase in public awareness that followed, consumers became more informed and engaged. As a 8
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result, businesses that adopt bee-friendly practices can help reach these Green Consumers: customers who weigh environmental impacts when making purchasing decisions. For proactive businesses, pollinator stewardship is “bee-smart” and business smart!
Did You Know?
The Advanced Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program has modules on “Understanding Green Consumers”, “IPM”, and “Pollinator Protection”.
Specific Pollinator Support Practices for the Green Industry The following list of tips include specific practices and strategies that garden center, nursery, and landscape businesses can incorporate into their daily tasks and share with their customers. These tips provide a range of options for promoting pollinators regardless of type of business, space, or resources.
Garden Centers: • Provide customers with literature on the importance of pollinators • Engage suppliers in conversations on the importance of pollinator-safe practices • Create signage describing pollinator-friendly practices • Keep plant species that tend to be pest-free available in inventory • Offer weekly discounts on pollinator-friendly plants, such as bee balm (Monarda spp.) (Figure 3) • Emphasize the importance of pollinators during gardening workshops and when hosting school groups
