3 Simple Ways to Help Bees Beat the Heat and Stay Hydrated in Your Yard All Summer Long
These things will support pollinators during scorching temperatures
With temperatures about to sky-rocket across much of the US, our gardens require some extra attention. But, in between keeping your plants hydrated, don't forget to help bees beat the heat, too.
You can attract bees to your garden and help them cope with the incoming heatwave by providing a fresh water source (you can insert these pollinator watering stations from Walmart in your garden borders, for example), ensuring there's vegetation for shade, and growing nectar-rich blooms that will thrive in the heat.
It's really quick and easy to incorporate these solutions in your garden to ensure the wildlife in your yard is comfortable and cool this summer. Here's how to do it.
1. Provide a Shallow Water Source
The most obvious way to help bees beat the heat is by providing a water source.
However, you can't simply rely on a bird bath for bees as it's far too deep for them. Instead, you need to provide a shallow water source for bees, such as a bee watering station.
You can simply fill a plant pot saucer (like this terracotta one from Amazon) with water and use pebbles for a landing spot. Or, pop one of these bee watering islands from Walmart in your bird bath to make it accessible for them.
Another option is inserting these floral pollinator watering cups from Amazon in your garden borders, which will also attract butterflies.
2. Don't Remove Flowering Weeds
There are many reasons not to get rid of weeds in the yard, but in a heatwave especially it can be beneficial to leave them for pollinators.
Not only do flowering weeds for pollinators provide nectar-rich sources (especially native plants), but they can also create some dense coverage for shade in heat.
Some of the best flowering weeds to keep for pollinators include dandelions, clover, and even stinging nettles.
You can also sprinkle these wildflowers for bees from Burpee to introduce more valuable self-seeders for pollinators to your yard.
Another way to provide shade for bees is by putting a bee house (like this charming mason bee house on Amazon) under a tree canopy. This gives them a cool spot to shelter in, away from the sun.
3. Grow Drought-Tolerant Plants
When heat scorches our gardens and wipes our plants with heat stress, it takes away nectar sources for bees. So, one of the best ways to help bees beat the heat is prioritizing drought-tolerant planting.
This will ensure planting survives and thrives in extreme weather so there are plenty of nectar sources for bees, keeping them energized and hydrated.
Some bee-friendly, drought-tolerant top picks include purple coneflower (which you can find at Plant Addicts), California lilac (find seeds on Amazon), and blanket flower.
Protecting plants in a heatwave can also help keep your garden in top condition. You can use this Walmart shade cover, for example, and strategically watering your plants in hot weather.
What to Shop
These wildflower seeds are a mix of bee-friendly blooms. They're all non-GMO varieties.
This wooden hanging bee house has lots of room for bees and other insects to shelter in.
These floral bee watering stations are ideal for giving pollinators somewhere to hydrate. They have stakes to insert into garden borders.
We all know bees work hard to pollinate our plants, but it isn't the only thing they do. There are other hidden jobs bees are doing in your garden, including aerating soil. That's why it's important to support them as much as possible, including avoiding the common gardening mistakes that harm pollinators.
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