5 Summer Tips to Support Pollinators

Planting a native pollinator garden is one of the best things you can do to support pollinators. But your contributions to these vital little critters don’t need to end there.

As we continue through the dog days of summer, here are 5 ways you can maximize pollinators’ odds of survival and help them perform their vital roles within our ecosystem. 

Offer water sources. 

Pollinators don’t just need nectar to survive. Like us, they also require water to stay hydrated. Bird baths are often too deep for bees and butterflies to access safely, so it’s helpful to provide dedicated water sources for our tiny pollinators. 

A shallow dish of water filled with small stones or marbles works well; this gives pollinators a safe place to land and stand while they hydrate. You can also create a butterfly “puddling” station by adding a bit of sand or soil to the water. Make sure to change the water frequently so it stays clean and doesn’t become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

Provide habitat for nesting bees. 

Many native bees create their homes in brush piles, hollow stems, or even on bare soil. You can create habitat for these important creatures by leaving a corner of your yard undisturbed, creating a brush pile, and/or allowing stems to remain standing even after blooms are spent. 

Some native pollinators use mud to build their nests, so you can also consider creating a small muddy area in an out-of-the-way part of your yard to help them out. 

Avoid using pesticides or herbicides. 

Sadly, even chemical sprays that claim to be bee-friendly can harm pollinators. Sprays can also travel from where they’re applied via air and soil, which means their harmful effects are broad-ranging. 

To protect pollinators who visit your gardens, opt for organic land care approaches and aim to avoid using herbicides or pesticides. If you need help, our team of Earth Stewards can assist with organic removal of weeds, invasive species such as honeysuckle, and more.

Create shade. 

Just like humans, pollinators use shade to take respite from the hot summer sun. If your yard is very sunny, consider creating pockets of shade with broad-leaved plants, a brush pile, rocks, a bench, or other elements throughout your garden. 

Plant for a diversity of blooms. 

Different pollinators are attracted to plants with particular colors, shapes, and sizes. Support as many pollinators as possible by planting native plants that feature a wide variety of flowers. Also aim to use plants with different blooms times (spring, summer, and fall) to extend pollinators’ access to nectar for as long as possible. 



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