Get rid of your bug zapper, keep chemicals out of your yard, and leave a little bare soil for solitary bees.

Native bees help your garden grow.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Rachael Winfree, PhD, is a scientist. So in typical academic fashion, her voice holds not a tone of drama; when she speaks, she lets the facts do the talking: “We need pollinators for global functioning and a livable planet,” says Winfree, an assistant professor of entomology at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. “Eighty to 90 percent of plant species rely on animal pollinators.”

Translation: If you like to eat, you need to pay attention to this.

THE DETAILS: The importance of pollinators is well recognized by gardeners and organic farmers. Last year, 38 governors joined the Pollination Partnership in officially recognizing National Pollinator Week, which is in its third year and runs now through June 28. Bees, the most important pollinators in most ecosystems, sometimes spend upwards of 10 hours a day bouncing from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen to feed their offspring. In the process, they help boost crop production. Of all the different global food crop species, 75 percent benefit from pollinators, meaning they set more fruit or produce more seed. Not all rely entirely on pollinators, but many crops will do nothing without pollinating critters’ help.

WHAT IT MEANS: Honeybee populations have crashed in the last few years due to a mysterious disease caused “colony collapse disorder.” Although scientists haven’t pinpointed the thing (or things) contributing to the alarming trend, other researchers have found hope in native bees. Honeybees, originally brought here from Europe, are often leased by farmers to increase crops’ pollination. Still, there are about 4,000 species native to North America that may greatly aid in pollination—for free. And studies focusing on particular crops have found these native bees could help do much of the work left behind by disappearing honeybees. National Pollinator Week raises awareness of the importance of protecting these creatures. Creating a more hospitable environment for native bees is not only important for farmlands, it’s also beneficial for your yard and garden. The bees will help pollinate your flowers and plants, so they’ll produce seeds and you won’t have to waste money on new plants every year.