Bees are essential for the health and productivity of gardens and landscapes. Pollination, the reproductive process for most flowering plants, involves the transfer of pollen, often facilitated by insects like bees. Gardeners can proactively increase the presence of these insects. Attracting bees requires meeting their basic needs for food, shelter, and a safe environment. Focusing on these three areas creates an inviting habitat that supports local pollinator populations.
Designing Your Garden with Pollinator-Specific Plants
The foundation of any pollinator-friendly garden is a diverse and reliable food source. Bees seek two primary resources from flowers: nectar, which provides energy for flight, and pollen, which delivers protein for developing larvae. To maximize the garden’s value, plant selection should prioritize native species, as they have co-evolved with local bee populations, providing the specific nutritional compounds and bloom timing that local insects require.
While generalist bees like bumblebees can forage from many plant types, specialist bees often rely on native plants for their survival. For instance, certain native mining bees emerge precisely when local cherry trees or willows bloom. Non-native plants can supplement the food supply, but they may lack the specific chemical cues or pollen quality needed by native species.
Bees perceive the world differently from humans, possessing vision sensitive to ultraviolet (UV), blue, and green light. They are particularly drawn to flowers in the blue and violet spectrum, which often yield the highest nectar rewards. Many flowers feature nectar guides that help direct the bee to the pollen and nectar sources. Flower shape dictates which bees can access the reward; flat, open flowers suit short-tongued bees, while deep, tubular shapes suit long-tongued species.
A successful pollinator garden ensures a continuous bloom succession from early spring through late fall, preventing gaps in the food supply. Early spring species, such as native maples and willows, are necessary for queens emerging from hibernation. Bees prefer efficiency, so plants should be arranged in large clumps or drifts rather than scattered as single specimens. Planting a variety of sizes and shapes, from groundcover to shrubs, provides vertical diversity that supports a wider range of foraging behaviors.
Providing Essential Shelter and Water Sources
Beyond food, a supportive environment must offer safe places for bees to nest and rear their young. Approximately 70% of native bee species are ground-nesters, creating solitary burrows in the soil. To accommodate these bees, leave patches of undisturbed, bare earth or sandy soil exposed to sunlight, preferably in a location that is not heavily mulched or tilled.
The remaining 30% of native bees are cavity-nesters, including mason bees and leafcutter bees. They seek out pre-existing holes for nesting, such as hollow plant stems or abandoned beetle tunnels in dead wood. Gardeners can create habitat by leaving hollow perennial stems standing through the winter and cutting them back to 8 to 12 inches in the spring. Purchased “bee houses” should be made of untreated wood with varying tube diameters. These houses must be replaced or cleaned annually to prevent the buildup of parasites and disease.
Water is a necessary resource, particularly during hot or dry periods, and bees require a safe way to drink without drowning. Shallow dishes or bird baths can be adapted by filling them with pebbles, stones, or corks that break the surface tension. These elements provide landing pads where bees can safely access the water source. Hydration is required for adult bees and for some species that use mud to construct their nesting cells.
Eliminating Chemical Hazards
Protecting the attracted bee population requires minimizing exposure to synthetic pesticides, which pose a significant threat to bee health and reproduction. Systemic insecticides, particularly neonicotinoids, are absorbed into the plant’s vascular system, making the pollen and nectar toxic to foraging bees for extended periods. Exposure to these chemicals, even at low, sublethal levels, can impair a bee’s navigation, learning, and overall colony reproductive success.
If pest control becomes necessary, use the least toxic options, such as horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps, and apply them only to the affected plant parts, not the entire garden. The timing of application is an important safety measure. Applying treatments late in the evening, after the bees have stopped foraging for the day, allows the product to dry or degrade before morning activity begins.
Tolerating some non-aesthetic plants, often considered weeds, can contribute to bee safety. Plants like clover and dandelions are valuable early-season forage for emerging bees. Opting for manual removal of unwanted plants over the use of herbicides reduces the overall chemical load in the environment. This ensures that the food and shelter resources provided remain safe for the pollinators they are meant to support.