Native Bees Are Top Pollinators and Need Protection

Many native bees spend winter asleep in stems, leaves, and underground burrows. A quiet garden helps them wake up in spring!

• Leave dead plant stems standing; they shelter mason and leafcutter bees.
• Avoid disturbing bare soil; mining and sweat bees rest underground.
• Keep some leaf litter; bumblebee queens seek shelter for winter.
• Skip winter tilling; dormant bee larvae stay safe when undisturbed.
• Leave soft, aging wood; cavity-nesting bees use logs for protection.
• Go light on mulch; open patches help ground-nesting bees emerge in spring.

  These winter guests are often the first pollinators in your garden each year!

This topic was covered previously in a Sun article: CLICK HERE