While the towering appearences of sunflowers entice many gardeners to plant these giants, it’s the incredible things happening around and below the surface that really captivate.
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Check PriceSunflowers aren't just ordinary flowers; they are ecosystem builders, soil restorers, and wildlife rescuers. Here are eight incredible yet underestimated qualities that make sunflowers excellent companions in the garden.
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1. Soil Detox Specialists
Sunflowers can draw up contaminants (even radioactivity and heavy metal wastes) through their roots and pulls toxins out of the soil by a process called *phytoremediation*, which is the ability of a plant to remove toxins from the soil and store them in their tissues. This is a process that could kill most other plants, however, sunflowers are able to survive in these soils and improve soil quality. Scientists planted a large number of sunflowers to help rehabilitate the soil after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Although your yard has probably not been affected by nuclear disasters, sunflowers can help improve soil quality when planted in soil that has previously been industrially contaminated or in soil that has been used for farming in the past.
2. They Establish Networks for Underground Trading
The roots of sunflowers work with mycorrhizal fungi to create enormous underground networks that unite the plants in your garden. These fungal networks enable plants to communicate with one another and share resources like nutrients and water, as well as chemical signals concerning pest attacks. When you plant sunflowers, you are providing your garden's plant community with the internet!
3. Never Have To Refill These Living Bird Feeders
A single sunflower head can have over 2,000 seeds! That means it can feed more than 40 different types of birds during the winter and fall seasons. Store bought feeders create a lot of work for people, sunflowers create a self sustaining food source! Birds such as cardinals, and finches, as well as nuthatches, and woodpeckers will visit a single sunflower head every day for months until every last seed is eaten.
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4. Act As Customized Pollinator Pathways
The tall stems and broad heads of the flowers provide elevated landing pads and navigation points for flying insects. For example, sunflowers are used by bees as rest stops during long foraging flights, and blooms are used by butterflies as refueling stations. Additionally, the height advantage provides hunting perches for beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs and lacewings to hunt garden pests.
5. They’re Pest Control Experts
Sunflowers draw in great bugs for managing garden pests. Parasitic wasps that prey on aphids and caterpillars are fond of nectar from sunflowers. Spiders will make webs among the stems of sunflowers to catch flying pests. The chemicals produced by the roots of sunflowers also naturally suppress specific weeds and soil pests.
6. They provide protection from wind and create different microclimates
The delicate plants that grow near sunflowers benefit from special protection from the harsh conditions of all seasons. The large leaves stretch wide to offer breathing and sheltering space from the harsh winds and moisture. These conditions mean you can grow delicate plants closer than before.
7. They're best in Companion Planting
Sunflowers are great companions to corn, beans, and tomatoes. Sunflower's long taproots do not compete with the shallow roots of these vegetables. They also improve the growing conditions by bringing deep nutrients to the surface and providing nectar to beneficial insects while your vegetables are growing.
8. They Change Into Year-Round Habitats For Wildlife
After the sunflowers are done blooming, they will still be beneficial for wildlife. The dry stalks give shelter for climbing vines, winter refuge for spiders and beetles, and nesting spaces for useful insects. Leave sun flower stalks up in the winter for shelter for wildlife and diverse structure in your garden.
The next time you see a sunflower, remember that it is one of the most advanced ecosystem engineers in nature. And that happy face is the control center for an entire system that facilitates the health and productivity of every plant in your garden- both in the ground and above it.
They will be creating an entire life support system that will work harder than any piece of garden equipment you can buy.
