What to leave alone in your garden this October to help overwintering bees — 2026-10-16

Impact Vector: Good News · Oct 16, 2026 · 2m

## Short Segments ## Feature Story As autumn settles in, gardeners are urged to rethink their seasonal cleanup routines to support overwintering bees. Instead of tidying up, leaving leaf litter and uncut perennial stems can provide crucial habitats for native wild bees, which are in decline. With over 3,600 bee species native to the United States, most of which are not honey bees, the focus is shifting to the conservation of native wild bees. These include mason bees, leafcutters, mining bees, and bumble bees, among others. Unlike honey bees, these native species are mostly solitary, with…