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Gardening for Native Bees

Why do native bees matter?


When we think of pollinators, honeybees often steal the spotlight, but here in North America, we’re home to over 4,000 species of native bees, each uniquely adapted to our local ecosystems. These unsung heroes are essential to the health of our gardens, wild spaces, and food systems.


Did you know?

  • 70% of native bees nest underground in bare soil or sandy patches.

  • 30% nest in cavities, like hollow plant stems, dead wood, or even abandoned beetle burrows.

Unlike honeybees (which were introduced from Europe), native bees have co-evolved with native plants for millennia. They’re often more efficient pollinators. Some, like mason bees, can pollinate 100 times more effectively than honeybees for certain crops! By gardening with native bees in mind, you’re not just beautifying your yard; you’re actively supporting biodiversity, food security, and ecological resilience.


Stem-Nesting Bees: Don’t “Over-Tidy” in Fall


Autumn signals a season of cleanup for many gardeners. But that urge to cut back every brown stem and rake every leaf? It might be doing more harm than good.


Many native bees, like leafcutter bees and mason bees, spend the winter tucked safely inside the hollow or pithy stems of perennials such as:

- Joe-Pye weed

- Bee balm

- Sunflowers

- Goldenrod

- Elderberry


ree

Instead of clearing everything, try these eco-friendly tips:

  • Leave dead stems standing through winter. Cut them back in early spring (after the last frost) to about 12–18 inches to preserve nesting sites.

  • Allow seed heads to remain. They provide food for birds and shelter for beneficial insects.

  • Create bee hotels using bundles of hollow reeds, bamboo, or drilled untreated wood blocks. Place them in a sunny, sheltered spot facing southeast.


The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation offers excellent, science-backed guides on how to leave stems for bees and build effective nesting structures. Check out their resources at [xerces.org](https://xerces.org).


Ground-Nesting Bees: Gentle Neighbors in the Soil


About 70% of native bees nest in the ground, digging small tunnels in bare, well-drained soil to lay their eggs. These solitary bees (like mining bees and sweat bees) are non-aggressive, rarely sting, and are often called “tickle bees” because they’re so gentle. Unlike honeybees, they don’t form hives or defend colonies, making them safe around kids and pets. By leaving a patch of bare soil undisturbed in your yard, you provide vital habitat for these quiet, hardworking pollinators without any risk.


ground nesting bee
ground nesting bee

  • Leave patches of bare, undisturbed soil. Avoid heavy mulching in at least one sunny, well-drained area of your garden.

  • Avoid tilling or digging in nesting zones during spring and summer.

  • Skip the pesticides. Even organic insecticides can harm developing bee larvae underground.


These bees are among the earliest pollinators each season, often emerging when temperatures reach just 55°F (13°C). They’re crucial for early-blooming fruit trees, wildflowers, and vegetables.


Simple Steps to Bee-Friendly Gardening


1. Plant native flowers. Choose a variety that blooms from early spring through late fall.

2. Provide nesting habitat. Combine bare soil patches with standing stems and bee hotels.

3. Avoid chemicals. Pesticides, herbicides, and even some fungicides can be lethal to bees.

4. Embrace a little mess. A “wild” corner in your garden is a sanctuary for pollinators.

5. Educate and inspire. Share your bee-friendly practices with neighbors. Pollinator corridors start with one garden at a time!


winter garden
winter garden

Gardening for native bees isn’t about perfection; it’s about partnership. By leaving a few stems standing, sparing a patch of bare earth, and planting with purpose, you create a refuge that ripples far beyond your fence line. These tiny pollinators don’t ask for much… just a place to call home.


So this fall, resist the urge to over-tidy. Let your garden rest, shelter, and sustain. The bees and your future harvests will thank you.


Happy gardening—and happy bees! 🐝



 
 
 

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