Every day, worker bees get out of bed and try to gather sufficient amounts of nectar and pollen to last the day. Unfortunately, these heroic little insects come across a treacherous swarm of suburban houses that create well-meaning bee deserts.
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Check PriceHere's the truth: As we beautify our yards with flowers, we cut out the very resources that bees require to survive. Looking on the bright side, there are just seven changes that can turn your yard from a hindrance to a hive and make it a pollinator haven.
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Create Water Landing Strips
Bees drink and use water to cool their hives and mix water with pollen to make bee bread to feed their young. Most water sources are bee death traps because bees drown trying to reach the water. They cannot land on smooth surfaces and will die in a water source before reaching the water. You can make bee water sources safe by placing flat stones or sticks in the water source. This will create shallow landing areas. If you are creating a shallow water source for bees in a birdbath, be sure to change the water every few days so mosquitoes do not breed in the water.
Choose Native Flowers That Bloom At Different Times
Although many garden nurseries sell beautiful blossoms, these plants do not feed any local bee species. However, local native plants will feed local native bees. Native plant species have co-evolved with their corresponding native bee species, and as a result, provide the right type of food (nectar and pollen) that specific bee species require. Consider planting at least 3 species of native plants that flowering at different times, such as early spring crocus, summer coneflower, and late fall aster to provide a constant food supply to the bees when they need it the most.
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Don't Spray Pesticides During The Day
Even bee-safe pesticides can become dangerous when bees are foraging. If you have to spray, do it after sunset when the majority of bees have returned to their hives. An even better option would be to use targeted organic approaches such as neem oil or companion planting that work with the beneficial insects instead of against them.
Leave Some Bare Soil for Ground-Nesting Bees
Did you know that 70% of bee species nest in the ground instead of trees or bee hives? Most people don’t know that. Solitary Ground-nesting bees need specific soil conditions to construct their burrows; soil that is well-drained and uncompacted. If you can, consider leaving some bare ground in sunny locations where you haven’t placed any mulching or landscape fabrics that would block access for nesting.
Construct Stem Hotels for Cavity Nesters
Leafcutter and Mason bees need hollow stems and small holes to raise their young. You can make small beehotels by bundling dried plants like bamboo or dried sunflower stalks, or by drilling holes of 6-8mm in untreated wood blocks. Hang these small beehotels at 3-6 feet high in a sunny and protected area. One small hotel can accommodate dozens of solitary bee families.
Timing Your Pruning to Protect the Nurseries of Bees
When you cut down plants in the fall, you are destroying bee nests. Many bees overwinter in hollow stems of the plants you've cut down. Instead of pruning in the spring, let the plants grow so the bees can come out. And remember, bee nesting habitat is available if you leave some stems standing all year.
Cut Lawn Area and Stop Using Herbicides
Bees get nothing from grass lawns — and actually only a little from dandelion-infested lawns (dandelions provide nectar during bee spring), but would thank you for planting clover. How about replacing some patches of grass with clover or native flower ground cover? You would help the bees and have less grass to mow. And don't use herbicides! In addition to contaminating the nectar of flowering plants, they kill the good bugs.
The positive effects of these changes extend well beyond aiding bees. A yard that is friendlier to bees also draws in other pollinators and helpful predators that keep pest insects in check, and fosters a more robust local ecosystem. A more diverse range of wildlife will arrive, as will a larger harvest of fruits and vegetables, and less work will be needed to maintain the yard, even as it supports more living things. All of this will happen in a single growing season.
Make one or two changes to your habitat this season. When you notice more bees visiting your new and improved habitat, you can start adding more bee friendly features. Each small modification will be amplified throughout your community as bees teach other bees in their colonies about reliable food and nesting sources.
