Give your garden a buzz-worthy makeover by transforming it into a bee-friendly space. Not only is a pollinator paradise better for the environment but it will also help bring your garden to life.

Small but mighty, bees play an essential role in the ecosystem. Without them and their pollinating superpowers, we wouldn’t have much of the food we eat. Unfortunately, bee populations have been on the decline. The good news is that you don’t need to be an expert beekeeper to help. Simply planting a bee-friendly garden is an easy and rewarding way to support these vital pollinators—and it’ll make your outdoor space more vibrant and livelier, too. Here’s a guide to help you get started.

Choose Bee-Friendly Flowers

Bees are drawn to nectar- and pollen-rich flowers, as these provide the food they need to survive. By planting a variety of flowers that bloom at different times from early spring to late fall, you can ensure a continuous food source.

Early bloomers, like crocus, snowdrops, and willow provide vital nectar when food is scarce in spring. In the summer, you can offer the bees a buffet with lavender, bee balm, sunflowers, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans. Come fall, bees will appreciate the late-season nourishment from goldenrod, asters, and sedum before they hunker down for the winter.

Grow Bee-Friendly Herbs

Planting herbs is a win-win for you and the bees. You’ll have fresh herbs to use in your cooking and the bees will have something to eat as well! Plants like basil, thyme, oregano, mint, and chives produce small flowers rich in nectar. Let a portion of your herbs go to flower, and you’ll see bees flocking to them.

Bonus: Many herbs are easy to grow in pots, making them perfect even for small balcony gardens.

Say No to Pesticides

Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are among the biggest threats to bee health. To truly support pollinators, opt for natural pest control methods instead. This can include introducing ladybugs to manage aphids and practicing companion planting. For example, planting marigolds near vegetables can help deter pests.

If you must use a treatment, apply it in the early morning or late evening when bees are less active, and never on blooming plants.

Provide Bee Habitats

Did you know that not all bees live in hives? That’s right—many are solitary and nest in the ground or in tree hollows. Consider leaving some bare patches of soil in your yard, without any grass or mulch, so that ground-nesting bees have somewhere to dig their burrows. You can also purchase some bee hotels for those species that prefer cozy hollows, like mason bees.

Make sure you also provide a water source to help keep bees hydrated and cool. A birdbath, shallow dish, or even a plant saucer will do the trick. Add stones or floating corks to give bees a safe place to land.

Embrace the Wild

A perfectly manicured lawn doesn’t offer much for the bees. While you don’t have to let nature totally take over, consider letting a section of your yard grow wild with native grasses and plants. These wild patches will quickly become bee hotspots, buzzing with activity and bursting with natural beauty.

You don’t need acres of land to make a difference. Whether you have a sprawling backyard, a small garden, or just a few pots on a balcony, every plant counts. Bees will happily visit any space that’s been crafted to suit their needs.