How to Make Your Garden a Safe Haven for Bees—and Why Your Plants Will Thank You

Bees are tireless pollinators who play a vital role in our ecosystems. While they can be a scary nuisance at barbecues, they’re absolutely critical to the survival of gardens. Without them, many fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants would struggle. Yet, bee populations are under threat. Fortunately, DIY gardeners can bridge the divide and help keep bees safe. Experts say that gardeners can take a few simple steps to ensure that these essential insects can do what they do best—support healthy garden growth. Here are five things you can do to make sure bees are welcome and supported in your garden.

Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers

One of the easiest ways to welcome bees into your garden is by planting flowers they love. “We need bees,” says Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s home expert. “And planting pollinators are the key to attracting bees. Sunflowers, milkweed, lavender—different bees like different flowers.” A diverse garden filled with pollinator-friendly flowering plants will help ensure that various bee species find the food they need.

Native plants are particularly effective. According to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), “planting native plants like milkweeds (Asclepias), mountain mints (Pycnanthemum), and a host of native asters is a great way to attract native moths, butterflies, wasps, and other beneficial insects to your garden.” These blooms provide the nectar and pollen that sustain bees throughout the growing season. When it comes to attracting pollinators, the more plant varieties the merrier.

Skip the Pesticides

Even small amounts of pesticides can cause bees harm, damaging their nervous systems and disorienting their ability to return to the hive. “Do not use any pesticides on the plants,” Manfredini warns. “That’s bad for the bees.”

Instead of relying on chemical sprays, try organic or integrated pest management practices. Companion planting, such as growing marigolds near vegetables, can naturally repel harmful insects while drawing in beneficial ones like bees. “There are a lot of pollinators that are great companion plants for vegetables,” notes Lindsey Chastain, founder of the homesteading blog Waddle and Cluck. Natural deterrents can control unwanted bugs without putting pollinators at risk. If you must treat a pest problem, use bee-safe products.

Provide Fresh Water

Simply put, bees need water to survive. They need it for drinking and regulating the temperature in their hives. Add a flowing water source to your garden to help attract the local bee population. You can use standing water in a shallow dish or the base of a clay pot, but take care. Standing water that sits too long can attract mosquitoes, so it’s important to refresh it often. Flowing water, like that in a small bubbler or fountain, is less likely to become stagnant.

Manfredini suggests a small fountain with fresh water instead. Alternatively, he says filling a shallow pan with new water weekly could work too. To make your bee watering station safer, add pebbles or twigs for the insects to land on while they drink. Change the water regularly so it doesn’t become stagnant.

Create a Shelter

Bees also need safe places to live. While honeybees build hives, most of North America’s 4,000 native bee species are solitary and nest in the ground or inside hollow plant stems. Urban development and landscaping threaten their natural habitats.

According to PHS, gardeners can support native bees by reducing manicured lawns and creating intentional habitats. Want to go the extra mile? Consider installing a bee hotel. These wooden structures are nesting sites filled with hollow reeds or drilled holes. Otherwise, avoid over-mulching, as many bees need exposed earth to build their nests.

Keep Blooms Going All Season

To support bees throughout their entire lifecycle, aim for a garden that blooms from early spring to late fall. Different bee species are active at different times of year, so having flowers available in all seasons helps keep them coming back for more.

Plant so that something is always blooming. Early spring bloomers like crocuses and hellebores can support bees just coming out of hibernation. Summer flowers like lavender and echinacea provide steady nourishment. Late bloomers, like goldenrod and asters, offer food as the season closes.

Replacing spent plants with fresh ones can also extend bloom times and keep your garden buzzing.