Insecta-Flora Beneficial Habitat Mix
Insecta-Flora mixes have flowers that bloom at different times throughout the year and include open flower structures that allow large and small insects to get nectar. Insecta-Flora also provides habitat for birds. Some flowers have lots of pollen, some will tolerate shade, and some will take mowing. Avoid planting mixes too heavily as the faster growing plants will overwhelm the slower growing plants resulting in lower diversity. Fall planting is best in a Mediterranean climate, giving plants time to establish in the rainy season. If planted in the spring, water to get established. In dryer areas, water several times in summer. To maintain an established habitat, if mowing is needed, mow half an area one month and the other half about a month later. Available in standard and low growing mixes.
Plant Insecta-Flora mixes 11 lb per acre OR 1 lb per 4,000 sq ft OR 1 oz per 250 sq ft OR 1 g per 9 sq ft To keep the stand for several years in a permanent bed, let the flowers set seed before mowing
A great option surrounding grow operations
Additional Info
Protect Plants with an Insect Army
The right predatory insects, given the opportunity, will control bad bugs. Increasing biodiversity provides food for beneficial insects, especially lacewing adults and highly specialized parasitic wasps and flies. Raking and discing to expose bare earth is replaced by appropriate low-maintenance plantings. Dirt tracks are planted with cover crops or insect attracting strips or hedgerows to provide nectar and pollen for survival of many beneficial insects when pests are dormant or reduced in numbers. Covering bare areas reduces dust on leaves, dust which invites spider mites to move in. It also protects plants from the heat from bare soil that causes spider mite populations to explode.
Investing one percent of your land in beneficial insect habitat provides big returns in pest control. Some of the smaller beneficials will fly a couple hundred feet to the occasional island or row of flowers that keep them going. If you have prevailing winds, an insectary border along that side will provide a welcoming committee of beneficials for entering pests. Insecta-Flora is expensive compared to many cover crop and “bug-blend” mixes because it contains mostly attractive flowers that reseed themselves. Averaged over 4 - 5 years the cost is quite reasonable.
Insecta-Flora mixes have flowers that bloom at different times through the year. The standard mix has low and medium height plants. The low-growing mix grows about one foot high and also serves well for nitrogen-fixing and erosion control. The high-growing mix grows to about three feet high providing cut flowers, herbs and a low visual screen for the landscape. Some of the blooms have open flower structures that permit large and small insects to get nectar. Some have lots of pollen. Some will tolerate shade, some will take mowing. Insecta-Flora also provides habitat for birds.
Planting and Management
Prepare a seed bed by scratching the surface to get aggregate particle size of ½ to 1 inch range. Drill in the seed or broadcast and lightly cover. Avoid planting too heavily as the faster growing plants will overwhelm the slower growing plants, and the resulting diversity will be lower. Plant 11 pounds per acre, 1 pound per 4,000 square feet, 1 ounce per 250 square feet, 1 gram per 9 square feet. Fall planting is best in a Mediterranean climate, giving plants time to establish in the rainy season. If planted in the spring, water to get established. In dryer areas water several times in summer. Avoid spraying pesticides on areas planted with Insecta-Flora, even soft ones, like soap, oil, and Bt. The area can be mowed, but to maintain the habitat, mow or weed-whip about half at time and then the other half about a month later. To keep the stand for several years let the flowers set seed before mowing.