If you love bees as much as we do, you may be wondering what you can do to support these little creatures in the early spring season. After all, scarce food and cold nights aren't exactly the easiest conditions to live in.

To help, we spoke to gardening experts to find the best ways to support the bees in your yard in spring. Here are seven things you can do right now to ensure a healthy environment so your local pollinators can thrive throughout the summer.

1. Put down the rake (for now)

One of the best ways to make your yard a bee haven this spring? Take a break from raking, weeding or cultivating.

"Wait until late spring or early summer before raking to help protect queen bees and other pollinators that may be hibernating in the soil," says Zeeshan Haider, CEO and founder of Greenry Enthusiast.

When the temperature is consistently above 50 degrees, all the sleeping bees will fully emerge and you can start cleaning up your yard then.

2. Use organic methods

Another way to support local pollinators now is to resist adding harmful chemicals to your yard.

"Eliminating pesticides creates an environment that's safe for bees, which will help your garden shine," says Elle Meager, founder of Outdoor Happens." Splashing your tomato plants or herb garden with insecticide to get rid of some aphids is likely to do more harm than good. So, try natural pest control methods."

Natural methods include spraying plants with water, using organic alternatives such as neem oil or even introducing larger predators to solve your pest control problems for you.

One type of spotted predator that won't harm bees? Ladybirds.

"Ladybugs are far superior to insecticides," adds Miguel.

3. Keep weeds at bay

Once your bees are safe, it's a good idea to make sure your garden and yard have some natural food sources. And in spring, food often comes from the weeds we all like to dig up.

"No one likes weeds, except bees," says Andrea Ballanti of Your Indoor Herbs." Dandelions and clover are the best food sources for bees. So, if you can, leave these plants around for a while so your local bees can feed on them."

Your garden will thank you. As well as being good food for bees in the early season, clover and dandelions are natural soil builders.

4. Embrace native plants

If you love bees, then you probably know all about planting a variety of pollinator-friendly plants. However, one of the best things you can add to your garden for bees are plants that grow naturally in your climate.

"Native plants are adapted to your local soil, making them more resilient and better able to provide the resources pollinators need," says Zahid Adnan of The Plant Bible.

Because they have co-evolved with native pollinators, native plants are also more likely to provide the right nectar and pollen for native bees.

5. Refill your water feature

If you have a fountain or other water feature in your yard, now is a good time to fill them with your local pollinators.

"Bees work hard in your garden," says Miguel." And then they get thirsty. So adding plenty of fresh water will motivate them to stay nearby and make themselves at home."

Miguel suggests adding birdbaths of different sizes and depths to help quench the thirst of local songbirds and other pollinators.

6. Build some bee hotels

After food and water, consider providing a little extra shelter for your pollinators. One way to do this is to build a bee hotel.

"Bee hotels," says Adnan, "provide nesting habitat for solitary bees, which make up the majority of bee species." Logs with holes drilled in them make great bee hotels, but it's important to make sure the holes are the right size."

Different bee species have different preferences for hole diameter, so be sure to do some research to find out which bees you want to attract (and the diameter of their preferred nesting hole) before you start drilling.

7. Be patient and observant

If you want to create a garden to which local pollinators return year after year, one of the best things you can do is also one of the easiest: keep an eye out.

"Observe the bees and other pollinators that visit your garden," says Adnan, "and try to identify the different species you see." This can help you adapt your gardening practices to the needs of local pollinators."

Don't be afraid to experiment and try new flower species, which may provide new food sources or nesting habitats. Pay attention to what your local bees seem to like and then work on adding more.

The most important thing? Don't forget to spend time outside enjoying the bee-friendly community you've created.