Petals & Roots: How to Make a Beautiful Bee Watering Station for Your Garden That Wildlife Will Love
When backyards dry out, a water source for bees is vital
One of the simplest ways to support wildlife in the garden is to remember that bees and butterflies need more than just flowers. In summer, when temperatures rise and natural water sources begin to dry up, bees work especially hard. Providing them with a safe place to drink and rest can make a meaningful difference.
I love the idea that something as humble as a shallow bowl filled with pebbles can become an important resource for these vital creatures. Unlike bird baths, which can be too deep for insects, a bee watering station offers a series of tiny landing spots where pollinators can rest and rehydrate before continuing on their way.
In this episode of Petals & Roots, I'll show you how to create a simple bee watering station using a handful of natural materials you may already have at home. It's a project that takes just a few minutes to put together, but throughout the summer months, it can help bees to beat the heat and become one of the prettiest and most rewarding corners of the garden.
What You Need to Make a Bee Watering Station
- A terracotta pot, just like this one from Walmart
- A saucer to place on top of it, such as this one from Amazon
- Decorative pebbles or stones. These white stones from Target are similar to the ones I used. Alternatively, opt for blue or green glass pebbles, such as these from Amazon.
- A few larger stones, preferably in a bright color
- Moss
- Fresh water
How To Make a Bee Watering Station
Before you begin, think about where you want to position your bee watering station.
Try to place it near to flowers that bees love, such as salvias and monarda, and away from the shade of large trees, where it may become clogged with fallen leaves.
I also want mine to be a key feature of a pollinator-friendly flowerbed, so I'm making sure there is sufficient space in the bed for this station.
To start, take your saucer and fill this with the stones or pebbles you've chosen.
Rather than making them level, try to create little mounds where the bees can perch. Bees cannot swim, so the idea of this station is to create safe spots where they can land and drink, without falling into the water.
On top of the stones, I decided to place three larger, brightly coloured pebbles, which I painted and varnished.
I did this because bees are attracted to bright colors, so I want to signal to them that this watering station is there.
The final thing to add, if you can find some in your yard, is a few pieces of moss. It retains water really well, creates another texture within the watering station, and it provides another safe spot for bees to land.
You could get more decorative with yours, and add beautiful shells, larger stones you've collected from the beach, or even brightly colored buttons.
When you're happy, add clean water and fill until the water is sitting just below the stones.
Then you are ready to position your watering station in the middle of a flowerbed or border, ready to welcome your busy garden bees. Keep the water topped up daily, maybe do it at the same time as your hot weather watering routine, and make sure you remove any fallen leaves or debris.
What to Shop
Petals & Roots is a weekly video series fronted by me, Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. Every weekend on social, I share my seasonal gardening and flower arranging expertise and advice.
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