#1 Put Out water.

Pollinators need water to both dilute food for their young and to stay hydrated. A single bee tends to at least 2,000 flowers daily! This makes the bees thirsty, especially on a hot day! Putting out water is as easy as adding a bird bath or a puddling area for butterflies or as complex as installing a water garden. You can also provide water by placing a small container of water out in the open. Be sure to change the water 2-3 times per week! It’s also helpful to place small rocks, corks, or marbles in your birdbath or small container for insects to land on when they are collecting water. Please don’t add sugar! That’s an unfortunate myth! Adding sugar to the water can cause the bees to take shortcuts. If a bee can get sugar from water rather than flowers, it will stop pollinating flowers!

#3 Turn off the lights.

Residential porch lights contribute to light pollution. Scientists have determined that excessive artificial light causes biological harm, impairing basic functioning of wildlife, plants and people. The American Medical Association warned in 2016 that blue LED light, in particular, disrupts sleep rhythms. Light pollution negatively impacts animals by essentially turning their nights into days, disrupting their circadian rhythms. So, turn off your flood lights at night! Or, at a minimum, change your bulbs to a motion-censored variety. If you’re concerned with safety, you can illuminate areas while also protecting and minimizing the effect of light pollution on our wildlife by purchasing special fixtures and bulbs reviewed and tested through the Wildlife Lighting Certification Program. They work by being visible to humans, but most wildlife species won’t be able to see the amber wavelength of light that humans can!

#2 Clear a patch of soil.

Most native bees are solitary and ground-nesting! They do not live in colonies; instead, each female lays and tends to her own eggs. Their burrows in the ground are beneficial for the ecosystem, not only by aiding in pollination but also the fertility of the soil. Ground bees’ nesting activity is limited to spring. Furthermore, they are non-aggressive and rarely sting, only when provoked! In fact, it’s just the females who have stingers attached to their bodies. So unless you have concerns for a family member with an allergy, it's preferable to allow them some space in your garden. So, how can you help? Leave the soil exposed in a few warm spots in your garden! A well-drained south-facing slope is an ideal site, away from activities. First, clear vegetation, leaving some clumps of grass or other low-growing plants to prevent erosion. Don’t turn the soil in the area, as bees need stable soil to nest in (young bees spend up to eleven months of the year underground). And viola! The bees will thank you!

#4 Invite wild.

Leave your gardens a little wild! First and foremost, avoid using pesticides and allow some natural plant damage! In fact, 30% of the plant can be consumed by insects without any noticeable visual indication. You don’t need to trim or cut everything back in the fall. Instead, you can let nature do its thing. Your garden is an ecosystem. Hedges, dead branches, and debris can make very suitable habitat for pollinators! Wood and cavity-nesting bees, like the leafcutter bee make up about 30% of our native bee population. Others nest in hollow plant stems, so leave your annuals and perennials alone for the winter. Also, delaying spring cleanup can help increase the number of native bees and beneficial insects in your garden. For example, lady beetles and lacewings will move in and help manage problem garden pests! Tolerate a few dandelions, clover and other non-invasive weeds. These provide nectar for a variety of pollinators including bees. Let’s invite wild!