Helping pollinators is one of the most rewarding and impactful things you can do for your local environment. Here are practical ways you can make a difference—whether you live on a farm, in a suburb, or in the city:
🌸 Plant for Pollinators
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Choose native plants: Native flowers are adapted to your region and better support local pollinators. Visit Native Plant Society of Texas
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Bloom through the seasons: Plant a variety that blooms in spring, summer, and fall to provide year-round food. Great Central Texas list: Best Bee-Friendly Plants for Austin
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Prioritize pollen and nectar: Go for single-blossom varieties (not double or ornamental ones) that offer accessible food. Detailed plant is for Texas and other states: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant List & Collections
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Avoid hybrids that may have little or no nectar.
🐝 Provide Shelter
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Leave bare soil patches: Many native bees nest underground.
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Avoid excessive mulching in wild areas so ground-nesting bees can access the soil.
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Add bee hotels: These can house solitary bees like mason and leafcutter bees.
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Let brush and dead wood be: Some insects and beetles nest in wood and plant stems.
🚫 Minimize Chemicals
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Avoid using pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides, especially on blooming plants.
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Use organic or integrated pest management (IPM) techniques.
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Apply any treatments in the early morning or late evening, when pollinators are less active.
💧 Offer Water
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Fill a shallow dish with water and add pebbles or twigs for pollinators to land on safely.
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Keep it clean and refill regularly.
🌱 Support Biodiversity
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Grow a mix of flowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses to support a wide range of species.
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Leave some “wild” areas where nature can thrive without tidying.
🏡 Make Your Yard a Safe Haven
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Reduce lawn size and replace with pollinator-friendly plants.
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Avoid mosquito sprays and lawn treatments harmful to insects.
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Join pollinator garden certification programs in your area. Do you have a pollinator habitat? List it with the Homegrown National Park’s Biodiversity Map. We went through Pollinator Partnership’s Pollinator Steward Certification
🐝 Support local beekeepers
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Purchasing honey and other products from local beekeepers can help sustain their efforts to protect pollinators.
📣 Educate & Advocate
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Share what you’ve learned with friends, neighbors, and local schools. We love the Xerces Society. They are an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats.
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Support local legislation that protects pollinators.
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Encourage cities or counties to adopt pollinator-friendly practices in parks and public spaces.
- Become a citizen scientist: Participate in pollinator monitoring projects to contribute to scientific research. Our favorite citizen scientist app is iNaturalist. It identifies plants and animals very quickly.
🧑🌾 Support Pollinator-Friendly Farmers
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Buy local, organic, and pesticide-free produce.
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Support farms that plant wildflower strips or maintain hedgerows for pollinators.
Even small actions make a difference—planting a pot of flowers on a balcony can help feed a hungry pollinator.