Pollinators are the unsung heroes of your garden—working around the clock to keep flowers blooming and veggies growing. But you don’t need a science degree or a fancy setup to support them. In fact, you’ve probably got everything you need sitting around your house.
From coffee filters to bottle caps, these 17 surprising items can give bees, butterflies, and other pollinators a real boost. It’s time to think outside the compost bin and turn everyday objects into eco-friendly garden gold.
1. Plastic Bottles Become Butterfly Feeders
Got empty soda bottles collecting dust? Transform them into colorful butterfly feeders! Cut the bottle in half, invert the top into the bottom, and add a sugar-water solution (4 parts water to 1 part sugar).
Paint the outside with bright colors to attract these fluttering friends. Hang your creation from a tree branch using twine or string. Butterflies will discover this sweet treat in no time, bringing vibrant movement to your garden space.
2. Old Teacups Make Perfect Bee Baths
Chipped teacups gathering dust in your cupboard can serve a new purpose. Fill them with clean water and add a few flat stones that rise above the waterline, giving bees a safe landing pad to perch while drinking.
Bees need water too! Place these charming bee baths throughout your garden, especially near flowering plants. The shallow depth prevents drowning while providing essential hydration during hot summer days when pollinators need it most.
3. Tin Cans Transform Into Pollinator Planters
Soup cans don’t belong in the recycling bin just yet! Wash them thoroughly, punch drainage holes in the bottom, and paint the exteriors with weatherproof paint. Bright colors like yellow, purple, and blue naturally attract pollinators.
Fill with pollinator-friendly plants like lavender, bee balm, or native wildflowers. Hang them on fence posts or arrange them on steps for an upcycled container garden. The metal retains heat, creating cozy microclimates that many flowering plants adore.
4. Broken Flower Pots Create Bumblebee Houses
Don’t toss that cracked terracotta pot! Bumblebees naturally nest in ground cavities and will happily move into your homemade accommodations. Bury the pot partially in soil with the broken side down, creating an entrance tunnel.
Fill the inside with dry grass, moss, or soft pet bedding material. Position it in a quiet, undisturbed corner of your garden where it gets morning sun. Native bumblebees might just take up residence, bringing their incredible pollination powers directly to your garden beds!
5. Wooden Spoons Become Plant Markers
Wooden spoons from your kitchen drawer can find new life as charming plant markers. Paint them with bright colors that attract pollinators, then write the names of your pollinator-friendly plants on the handles.
Stick them into the soil beside each plant. Beyond looking cute, these markers help you track which plants pollinators prefer most. You’ll soon notice patterns of butterfly and bee activity, allowing you to plan future plantings based on what your local pollinators truly love.
6. Mason Jars Turn Into Hummingbird Feeders
Empty mason jars make stunning hummingbird feeders with minimal effort! Punch holes in the metal lid, fill with homemade nectar (4 parts water to 1 part white sugar, boiled then cooled), and add a splash of red on the outside to catch their eye.
Hang your creation where you can watch these iridescent visitors. Unlike commercial feeders, you can easily clean these thoroughly to prevent mold growth. Remember to change the nectar every 3-5 days during hot weather to keep your tiny visitors healthy and coming back.
7. Cardboard Toilet Paper Rolls Make Solitary Bee Hotels
Most native bees are solitary nesters who need small tubes to lay eggs. Gather those cardboard toilet paper rolls you’d normally recycle. Bundle several together inside a coffee can or small wooden box, placing it horizontally in a sheltered spot.
Mason bees and leafcutter bees will discover these perfect nesting spots. They’ll seal the tubes with mud or bits of leaves, laying eggs inside. Come spring, you’ll witness the next generation emerging, ready to pollinate your garden with remarkable efficiency.
8. Wine Corks Create Floating Pollinator Islands
Save those wine corks for a creative garden project! Glue several corks together to form a small raft, then drill tiny holes in the top. Insert small pollinator-friendly plants like sedum or miniature succulents into the holes.
Float these mini-gardens in bird baths or small garden ponds. Bees and butterflies will use them as landing pads while sipping water. The plants provide both food and resting spots, turning ordinary water features into pollinator paradise islands that add whimsical charm to your garden.
9. Egg Cartons Become Seedling Starters
Paper egg cartons make perfect biodegradable seed starters for pollinator plants. Fill each cup with seed-starting mix and plant pollinator favorites like zinnias, cosmos, or native wildflowers.
Once seedlings develop strong roots, cut the cups apart and plant directly in your garden—the paper will decompose naturally. Starting from seed allows you to grow pollinator plants without pesticide exposure that often occurs with nursery plants. Your homegrown flowers will provide chemical-free nectar sources all season long.
10. Old Dresser Drawers Transform Into Pollinator Gardens
That broken dresser in your garage can become a stunning raised pollinator garden! Remove the drawers, drill drainage holes in the bottom, and fill with quality soil. Position in a sunny spot where you can enjoy watching the pollinator activity.
Plant a mix of flowers that bloom throughout the seasons—early spring bulbs, summer perennials, and fall asters. The different wood heights create natural microclimates, supporting diverse plant communities. Vintage drawer pulls add charming character while providing perfect perches for butterflies to sun themselves.
11. Plastic Milk Jugs Become Butterfly Houses
Empty milk jugs make perfect butterfly shelters during rain or strong winds. Cut a large opening in one side, leaving the handle intact for hanging. Paint the exterior with weatherproof paint in bright colors that butterflies love.
Place thin twigs inside as perches and hang your creation near flowering plants. During harsh weather, butterflies will seek refuge inside these protective shelters. Some butterfly species might even use them for overnight roosting or as protected spots during their vulnerable drying period after emerging from chrysalides.
12. Old Wooden Pallets Create Vertical Pollinator Gardens
Wooden pallets make outstanding vertical gardens perfect for small spaces. Stand a pallet upright, staple landscape fabric to the back and bottom, then fill the openings with soil and pollinator-friendly plants.
Choose cascading flowers like trailing verbena or lobelia for the top sections, and upright bloomers like salvias or coneflowers for lower pockets. The vertical orientation creates a living wall of flowers at different heights, attracting diverse pollinators from ground-dwelling bees to hovering hummingbirds.
13. Stale Bread Becomes Butterfly Food
Before tossing stale bread, consider using it for a butterfly feeding station! Mix overripe fruit with the bread in a shallow dish, adding a splash of sugar water or fruit juice. Some butterflies prefer fermenting fruit over flower nectar.
Place your creation in a sunny spot near flowering plants. Many butterfly species like Red Admirals and Mourning Cloaks will flock to this treat. They’ll sip the sweet liquid through their proboscis while basking in the sun, giving you amazing opportunities to observe these delicate creatures up close.
14. Old Teapots Convert Into Pollinator Waterers
Leaky teapots make perfect slow-drip waterers for pollinator gardens! Fill with water and position among your flowers, allowing water to gradually seep out through the spout or any small cracks.
The gentle moisture creates mud puddles that butterflies need for extracting minerals. Male butterflies particularly seek these puddles to gather salts and nutrients they pass to females during mating. Place colorful stones around the teapot to create landing spots where butterflies can rest while drinking.
15. Paper Towel Tubes Form Beneficial Insect Homes
Cardboard tubes from paper towel rolls make perfect homes for beneficial insects like lacewings and ladybugs—natural predators that protect your pollinators from harmful pests. Cut tubes into 3-inch sections and bundle them together inside a coffee can.
Mount horizontally in a sheltered location near your pollinator plants. These beneficial insects will lay eggs inside the tubes, creating a natural pest control system. The resulting ecosystem balance means fewer aphids and other pests that can stress your flowering plants, leading to healthier blooms and happier pollinators.
16. Yogurt Cups Create Mini Pollinator Ponds
Empty yogurt containers can become miniature water features that attract thirsty pollinators! Bury them to the rim in soil, fill with water, and add a few floating plants like duckweed or water lettuce.
Place small stones or wine corks as landing platforms where bees and butterflies can safely perch while drinking. Position these mini-ponds throughout your garden, especially in hot, sunny areas where pollinators need hydration most. The tiny water features will attract dragonflies too—beautiful aerial predators that help control mosquitoes.
17. Old Cutlery Transforms Into Garden Art Perches
Bent forks, spoons, and knives from your kitchen drawers make perfect butterfly perches! Bend the handles to create interesting shapes, then mount them on garden stakes or push directly into the soil near flowering plants.
The metal warms in the sun, creating perfect basking spots where butterflies spread their wings. Paint with bright colors or leave them silver for a modern look. Beyond their practical purpose, these whimsical garden art pieces add personality to your pollinator paradise while providing essential resting spots for your winged visitors.