​As the weather begins to cool and the leaves start to burn with color, it’s time to think about making some changes to your garden. Not only will you be able to fill the space with more seasonally appropriate flowers and shrubs, you’ll be helping the bees find food and shelter.
 
Bees are incredibly important to our ecosystem; in fact, about ⅓ of all the foods we eat are dependent upon these tiny creatures to flourish. Pollination and cross-pollination can be artificially produced, but it’s a difficult, labor-intensive process, so keeping your local bees healthy and happy is imperative since their population is in danger due to pesticides and loss of habitat.
 
Do a little research to find out the best types of flowers to plant for fall in your area, and which ones will provide plenty of food for bees as the weather turns cooler and it becomes harder to find nectar. It’s also a good idea to think about changing up your landscaping, especially if it includes a lot of mulched areas, since bees often go underground to nest and need open areas to do it in.
 
Here are some of the best tips on how to get started.
 
Do some homework
 
Before you get started, you’ll need to do a little research on which plants are native to your region. Bees often adapt to local flowers and love the nectar they provide, so check to see which ones grow naturally where you live. Plant these in clusters, as bees usually like to feed in groups of flowers in order to have a big selection to choose from, and look for non-hybrid flowers. Hybrids are great for avid gardeners who want disease resistance and bigger, better blooms, but they don’t offer much in the way of food for the bees. Some great fall choices are purple aster, goldenrod, sunflowers, hydrangeas, pagoda ninewood, and ninebarks. You can go here for more great ideas.
 
Think about the type of plant you want
 
Flat-headed flowers make it easier for bees to access pollen, as they provide a sturdy place to stand and rest, so think about how to make use of these in bigger numbers than double-headed flowers. While these are beautiful blooms, they can make things more difficult for the bees.
 
Make it safe
 
Bees have many challenges to overcome, so give them a safe space in which to live, eat, and thrive. Never use pesticides on your plants; if you have a bug problem, consider using a natural, organic alternative. It’s also a good idea to set out a small bowl of water with protruding stones so your local bees can stop and get a drink without danger of falling in and drowning. Bees get thirsty, too!
 
Give them a home
 
Different types of bees enjoy different kinds of homes; some nest underground and need uncultivated soil to burrow in, while others prefer shrubs or blocks of wood. Do a little research on what types of bees live in your area and give them a safe place to rest and build a nest. For some great tips on fall landscaping, check out HomeAdvisor.com.
 
Give them shelter
 
Consider planting some shrubs if you don’t already have them; these will give bees a safe place to rest and protect them from the strong winds that autumn often brings.
 
Talk to your neighbors, friends, and family about how they can do their part for the bees, or think about starting a community garden so the bees in your area will have plenty of places to find food when summer starts to fade. Get the kids involved and make fall gardening a community effort. 

​In the past decade, the plight of the honey bee has become a staple in the news… and rightfully so. Bees are important to maintaining not only a well-balanced ecosystem, but a well-balanced food supply. As pollinators, bees are relatively easy to care for and highly efficient, making them difficult, even impossible, to replace. That’s why, when they started disappearing, everyone freaked out.
 
From microscopic mites to neonicotinoids, there are dozens of theories about what’s happening and why. In reality, no one knows for sure what causes Colony Collapse Disorder. Luckily, private citizens and beekeepers are picking up slack for the commercial operations and taking care of the bees themselves. As a result, bee populations are on the rise around the world. Here are five things you can do right now to help keep it that way:

1. Buy local honey. It might seem simple, but buying honey from your local beekeeper is one of the biggest ways you can help maintain the honey bee population right where you live. Beekeeping isn’t especially difficult, but it does require time and money. Many beekeepers bottle and sell their honey, not to make a profit, but to recoup some of their investment in raising the bees themselves. So, next time you see a roadside stand or booth at the local farmer’s market, grab a bottle of the good stuff. As an added bonus, local honey is fresh and unprocessed, unlike many store-bought brands, and it boasts a lot of health benefits.
2. Plant a bee garden. Flowers are food for bees. As they hover over the bright blossoms, they are actually collecting pollen or nectar. So, planting a small garden is an easy way to feed the bees in your own backyard. While our winged friends like some flowers more than others, a bee garden can consist of just about any type of flower, plant, or tree you like… as long as it blooms. If you’re feeling really generous, you can also leave out a small platter or bowl of water for bees to bathe in and drink too. Just be sure to dump it out every few days to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in it.
   
3. Use pesticides wisely. Contrary to popular belief, it is entirely possible to get rid of the insects you don’t want at your home and keep the ones you do. If you treat your property yourself, simply be careful to avoid applying insecticides in the places bees and other beneficial insects spend their time. That means you shouldn’t treat flowering plants of any kind, from wildflowers to vegetable gardens. And if you employ a pest control service to rid your property of mosquitoes or other nuisance insects, be sure they have a bee-friendly policy in place.
   
4. Don’t kill them. If you or someone in your family is allergic to or deathly afraid of bees, you probably don’t want them around. That’s okay. If bees become a nuisance, don’t try to get rid of them yourself. Instead, call a professional. Beekeepers in your area will likely be more than happy to come remove a swarming hive and, since they’ll be able to rehome the bees, they may even do it free of charge.
5. Become a beekeeper. After years of decline, beekeeping as a hobby has become popular once again. Thanks to new technology, increased access to information, and a renewed interest in bee health, it’s now easier and less expensive to raise bees than ever before. You can do it just about anywhere, from urban rooftops to rural pastures. You can even get started for free!

After years of decline, bees’ prospects are actually looking good. But that doesn’t mean we can stop supporting them. Bees are important enough that we should all feel compelled to do what we can to not only keep them alive, but to help them thrive.