How to Create a Bee-Friendly Garden
Do you have a bee-friendly garden at home? One which provides bees and other insects with the right conditions for them to thrive? Without bees, pollination would fail to occur and this will severely impact upon a plant’s life cycle and our food source.
We think everyone should have a bee-friendly garden (exceptions for those with severe allergies, of course), and today we’re going to explain how you can make your own.
What is a Bee-Friendly Garden?
Before you can create one, you really need to have a solid grasp on what one is. So, a bee-friendly garden is an outdoor space where you have planted trees, flowers and shrubs which bees rely upon. Providing nutrients and energy, as well as pollen to collect, they truly are a bee’s lifeblood.
It’s also important to realise that some sprays and chemicals used in the garden can accidentally kill bees. If you do use sprays, look for certified bee-friendly options to use instead.
When planting your garden, take note of the plants' bees like best and add more of them if you can. This includes sunflowers and lavender (yellow and purple are bee-favourite colours), fruits and vegetables such as brassicas, blackberries and pumpkins, plus perennials including dahlias and gladiolus.
How to Create a Bee-Friendly Garden
Bees just don’t magically appear every time a flower is near. In fact, they have specific preferences as to where they like to hang out and what they like to eat. So we've put together some ideas on how you can transform your garden into a hive (yup, a pun on purpose) of buzzing activity:
- Bees like plants which have a flower with a single row of petals. That’s because they are easier for bees to land upon and get nectar from. Be sure to choose simple petaled flowers.
- Plant bee-friendly wildflowers. Our Bee Blend Seed Bombs contain a combination of Cornflower, Echium, Phacelia, Poppy, Red Clover, Rudbeckia, Salvia and Thyme seeds which bees really love. These are best thrown into the garden from early spring to late summer.
- When planting, be sure to group plants together to attract bees. This provides a strong visual attraction for bees to notice.
- Consider renting a hive. Many beekeepers are happy to rent their hives out and will come and show you how to care for the bees in your garden.
- Have a variety of plants which bloom at different times during the year for an ongoing food source.
- Build a bee bath. While bees don’t like swimming, they do need to drink. A shallow dish of water with stones acting as dry islands to land upon would be much appreciated.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to buzz off and get your bee-friendly garden created!