Boosting the Bloom
Avocado trees require the aid of pollinators such as bees in order to facilitate blooming and fruiting. These trees are self-infertile, meaning that their flowers need to be fertilized with pollen from a different plant of the same species. Without bees to transport the flowers’ pollen, an avocado tree will not bloom or produce fruit. Attracting bees to an avocado tree can be achieved through various methods.
Creating Pollinator Friendly Habitat
Creating a pollinator friendly habitat is the first step to drawing bees to the avocado tree. This includes ensuring the surrounding area of bloomers is clean and clear of debris, while at the same time providing bees with the resources they need. Bees need access to clean water, food, and shelter. Placing a shallow water dish near the tree will create a safe water source. Additionally, planting nectar-producing plants around the avocado tree can serve as a food source for the pollinators. Finally, creating nesting areas for pollinators with materials such as nesting blocks from local hardware stores can create a safe space for the bees to thrive.
Protection from Pesticide
Pesticides are a major compound that can disrupt bees in an avocado, or any, tree’s environment. Therefore, it is important to limit the use of harsher, synthetic pesticides. From an expert’s perspective, integrated pest management, or IPM, is essential in order to prevent any negative environmental impact. IPM is defined as “an effective and environmentally-sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices”. This includes implementing alternatives to pesticides, such as attracting predatory insects, or encouraging beneficial insects (like pollinators) to enter into gardens. As per the experts, eliminating insect threats without harming beneficial insects is the ideal way to maintain balance in the garden.
Blossom Enhancements
Apart from the environmental considerations, other measures can be taken in order to facilitate the growth and presence of the bees. Blossoms that are easy to access, cluster together and produce more nectar are more likely to attract more bees. Enhancing the blooming process with bee-friendly compounds, like bee booster, is also a very effective tool for attracting bees in the vicinity of an avocado tree. Bee-friendly compounds help to keep the flowering plant healthier, as well as make them more attractive to the pollinators.
Using a Bee House
Bee houses can be used to encourage and retain the presence of bees on an avocado tree. Bee houses provide a safe nesting and resting spot for the pollinators, and when designed properly, offer many benefits to bees. Bee houses should be hung or placed at a height of approximately two meters, near to or within line-of-sight of the avocado tree, and be exposed to sunshine throughout the day. Additionally, they should contain some form of insulation to protect the bees from the cold, and should be kept in an area that is protected from wind and rain.
Reducing Stressors
Apart from providing the necessary environmental necessities, reducing stressors can facilitate the presence of bees in an area. Reducing stressors includes reducing the level of noise and avoiding sudden movements near the tree. It also involves preventing pets from entering the garden, as the presence of animals can cause stress for the bees. Additionally, providing a safe space for the bees to rest and nest, such as a bee house, can help reduce the overall stress levels in the area and create a more comfortable environment for the pollinators.
Bee-Attracting Plants
Planting bee-friendly plants can be an effective way to attract more bees to the avocado tree. These plants are usually easy-to-grow, and can provide an additional boost of color and life to a garden. Some plants that work best to attract bees to avocados include Salvia, lavender, wildflowers, and mallow.
Gardening for Attraction
Gardening for bee attraction focuses on ensuring that the garden, as a whole, is bee-friendly and inviting. This includes choosing plants that are drought tolerant, or those which bloom in succession throughout the entire season, so that the bees have a steady supply of food source. Additionally, providing a shallow water source body, such as a bird bath, will provide the bees with clean water.
Managing the Avocado Weather
When the weather becomes too extreme, it can cause set-backs in a bee’s ability to pollinate and thrive in the avocado tree’s area. Managing the weather is essential for protecting the bees and keeping them in the tree’s environment. During periods of extreme heat, it is important to provide shade or shelter for the pollinators, so they can escape the heat and get a break from the weather. Additionally, during periods of drought, providing additional water sources and watering the garden often can help sustain the bee population.
Encouraging Pollinators
Encouraging pollinators to enter the garden and frequent the avocado tree can help to ensure progression and a successful crop. This can be done by providing the necessary bee-friendly compounds that the pollinators need in order to thrive. Additionally, offering extra resources, such as shallow water sources, nest boxes, and flowering plants can help to further encourage the pollinators to enter the avocado tree’s environment.
Growing Community
Growing a community of people interested in pollinator protection and ecosystem health is essential to a successful avocado tree. This includes gathering information from research and studies, as well as joining local organizations and associations related to pollinator protection. Participating in local events, such as planting and tending to a pollinator-friendly garden, or creating informational materials and hosting workshops can also help to create awareness and build a lasting community around the avocado tree.
Maintaining Native Pollinators
Maintaining native pollinators is crucial to an avocado tree’s success. Native pollinators are those species which are native or naturalized in the region, and interact with native plants. Providing additional resources, such as wildflower gardens, and making the environment more attractive to native pollinators is important in order for there to be a healthy population of pollinators in the area. Additionally, exploring a garden’s potential for nesting habitats, such as natural cavities or masonry nests, can provide a safe space for the native pollinators.
Harvest Accommodation
Finally, accommodating the avocado tree’s harvest is also essential to its success. Harvest accommodation involves providing a safe way for bees to exit the tree, by either removing or cutting open the fruit when it is time for harvesting. This will allow the bees to exit without risk of harm, or being trapped within the fruit. Accommodating the harvest can also help to preserve the bee population, and ensure that the tree remains pollinated and producing fruit.
