Take Care of Texas is here to help you to find ways to Take Care of our local pollinators! Here we’ve compiled five easy ways to help our winged friends.
Plant for Pollinators
1. Grow Native Plants
Texas pollinators use native flowers and shrubs for food and shelter. By adding local plants to your garden, you can give them a great place to visit—especially if you live in an urban area, where native plants can be rare. Find what’s native to your local area at the Wildflower Center's Native Plant Database!
2. Make a Bee Hotel
While honeybees live in large colonies, many other bee species are solitary. And sometimes these incredible pollinators struggle to find shelter. You can create a bee hotel out of old paper or cardboard to help them rest their wings.
3. Avoid Harsh Pesticides
Be mindful of the chemicals that you put in your garden, even if they are organic! Pesticides can dramatically impact local pollinator populations, as well as runoff into our groundwater. Learn more about eco-friendly gardening in our Guide to Yard Care.
4. Provide a Water Source
Just like us, pollinators can easily become dehydrated, especially in warmer weather. By adding a water feature like a bird bath or small pond, you can provide all sorts of critters with an easy location to access water.
5. Care for Our Nocturnal Pollinators
It's not just bees and butterflies that pollinate the plants of Texas, but bats too! Help them out by turning off your outside lights at night.
You can also learn more about how to Take Care of Texas pollinators from our friends at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.