Ok, doing a lot of research lately on native bees, and the disaster that is approaching. As a gardener, you should be aware of the crisis, and do what you can to help, if you value your blooms. Native bees are the unsung heroes of our gardens, farms, and wild landscapes. Unlike their imported cousin the European honeybee, native bees evolved with local ecosystems and are responsible for pollinating nearly 80% of all flowering plants. Yet today, these crucial pollinators face an alarming decline, and most people don’t even realize there’s a native bee crisis happening right outside their window.

Let’s explore what’s behind this troubling trend—and most importantly, what gardeners and nature-lovers like you can do to help reverse it.

Why Are Native Bees in Decline?

The decline of native bee populations has been quietly accelerating over the past few decades, driven by several human-induced factors:

• Habitat Loss – Urban sprawl, monoculture agriculture, and landscaping trends that favor lawns over native plants have left bees with fewer nesting sites and foraging resources.
• Pesticides and Herbicides – Widely-used chemicals, especially neonicotinoids, harm bees’ ability to navigate, reproduce, and survive.
• Invasive Species – Introduced pests like the varroa mite, as well as aggressive non-native bees, compete with or harm native populations.
• Climate Change – Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather affect flower bloom times and food availability, disrupting native bees’ lifecycles.
• Diseases from Domesticated Bees – Commercial hives can transmit diseases to wild bees, further straining already vulnerable populations.

Honey Bees vs. Native Bees – What’s the Difference?

Most people associate “bees” with honey bees—but they’re just one species out of over 4,000 native bee species in North America. While honey bees live in large hives and produce honey, most native bees are solitary, don’t make honey, and nest in the ground or hollow stems. Honey bees are generalist pollinators and excellent for crops like almonds, but native bees are far more efficient at pollinating many fruits, vegetables, and wild plants. Some, like the blue orchard bee, can pollinate as many flowers as 100 honey bees in a day. Native bees are also more resilient in cold, wet, or early-season conditions. The bottom line? We need both, but native bees are critical to maintaining local biodiversity.

Why Native Bees Matter More Than You Think

While honeybees get most of the press, native bees are far more efficient pollinators for many plants, especially fruits, vegetables, and wildflowers. Species like bumblebees, mason bees, and leafcutter bees can pollinate in cool or cloudy weather when honeybees stay in the hive. Some plants, like tomatoes and eggplants, require buzz pollination, a skill honeybees simply don’t have.

In short, saving native bees means saving biodiversity, food security, and the health of entire ecosystems.

How Gardeners Can Help Native Bees

You don’t need to be a scientist or farmer to make a difference. Every backyard, balcony, or garden can become a native bee haven with a few simple changes.

• Plant Native Flowers

Choose regionally appropriate native plants that bloom from early spring to late fall to provide a continuous food supply. Aim for variety in color, shape, and bloom time.
Pro Tip: Cluster the same plant species together—bees prefer to forage in patches.

• Skip the Chemicals

Ditch synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. If you must treat a pest problem, use organic or bee-safe alternatives and apply them early in the morning or late in the evening when bees are less active.

• Provide Nesting Sites

Most native bees are solitary and nest underground or in hollow stems.

• Leave bare patches of soil undisturbed.
• Don’t deadhead everything—some bees nest in spent plant stalks.
• Add natural features like brush piles, rocks, and driftwood to your garden for nesting shelter.

• Install Bee Houses (the Right Way)

Bee houses, or bee hotels, offer cavity-nesting bees like mason bees and leafcutter bees a safe place to lay their eggs. But not all bee houses are created equal. Look for designs with tubes that are removable and cleanable (to prevent mold and parasites), made from natural, untreated materials, and with tubes 6″ deep and 5/16″ in diameter. Place the house in a sunny, sheltered spot facing southeast, and be sure to clean or replace the nesting tubes yearly to avoid disease buildup. Pair the bee house with early spring flowers to support bees as they emerge.

• Support Local Ecosystems

Restore hedgerows, add flowering shrubs, and avoid invasive species. The more your garden mimics a wild ecosystem, the better it supports native bees.

• Leave the Leaves

Fall leaves and plant debris offer shelter for overwintering pollinators. Don’t be too tidy—messy gardens are biodiversity-friendly gardens.

• Educate Others

Host a bee-themed garden tour, share native bee facts on social media, or advocate for pollinator-friendly practices in your neighborhood. The more people know, the stronger the movement becomes.

Make a Difference—From Your Own Backyard

The native bee crisis isn’t someone else’s problem—it’s ours. But the good news is that the solutions are local, scalable, and empowering. By making a few intentional choices in your garden, you can become part of the solution and help restore balance to our pollinator populations.

So grab your gloves, pick your plants, and get buzzing—your garden can be a sanctuary in the fight to save native bees.

Master Gardener Tip: Want to know which native bees live in your area? Visit Pollinator Partnership’s Ecoregional Planting Guides to get region-specific advice on what to plant.