How to Plant a Garden for Birds and Pollinators

In this video, Jenn Nawada, landscape designer for Ask This Old House, helps a homeowner turn her front yard into a garden that will attract birds and pollinators in Washington, D.C.

Steps for Planting a Pollinator Garden

1. Clear the area where you’d like to plant the garden, perform a soil test, and amend soil as necessary.
2. Choose plants and lay them out in a design you like before you start digging.
3. Be sure to call a local gas utility before you dig to ensure you don’t hit an underground gas line.
4. Using a digging shovel, dig holes almost as deep as the container for each plant and a little bit wider.
5. Take the plant out of the container and tease out the root ball.
6. Place each plant in its hole and fill it with a mixture of planting soil and leftover existing soil.
7. Spread out mulch around plants about 2 to 3 inches thick, keeping it away from the base of the plant so as not to smother it.
8. Give the newly planted garden a long soak of water and check it once a day to see if it needs more water.

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