Bees help your garden grow beautiful. Having bees buzzing around to act as pollinators not only bring life to your garden but also helps make flowers and other plants succulent and abundant. You can attract bees by planting bee friendly plants; letting your garden grow a little wild; and providing water and shelter for bees.
Planting bee-friendly flowers
Plant flowers with single petals
Flowers with a single row of petals have more pollen than other flowers, so they provide a little more food for hungry bees. Its also easier for bees to reach their nectar when there is only one row of petals to crawl across.
Plant purple flowers
Purple flowers are easier for bees to see than pinks, orange and red flowers are. White, blue and yellow flowers are also beneficial so you don’t have to have a completely purple garden!
Plant flowers that bloom in sequence
If all your flowers bloom at the same time, bees will have a feast and then run out of food before the summers end. Plant a variety of flowers that bloom throughout spring, summer and into autumn to keep your bees fed and happy.
Plant flowering vegetable and fruit plants
Berries, melons, squash, cucumbers, and fruit trees, especially cherry trees, all produce fragrant flowers and fruit that are attractive to bees. Bees are beneficial to these plants, so providing them in your garden will be a treat for you both.
Plant herbs that attract bees
If you have space for a little herb garden, that’s another great way to attract bees. Mints attract certain types of bees, as do sage, rosemary, thyme, bee balm, and a number of other herbs.
Make your garden a bee haven
Let it get a little wild
If your lawn is perfectly mown, every stick and leaf is picked up and there are no muddy spots around bees will have trouble finding a home in your garden. Bees are wild creatures who need a wild habitat to thrive.
Make a bee bath
Bees have trouble using birdbaths as they cant land in deep water. Lay some flat rocks in a shallow bowl and fill with water so bees can walk up to the edge and take a drink or bath without drowning!
Provide a bee shelter
Rotting vegetation and stumps are a great shelter for bees, although not very attractive. An alternative is to install a hive or other bee shelter to provide nesting spots for bees.
Stop using pesticides of any kind
Bees are susceptible to pesticides and other chemicals sprayed in gardens. Aim to have a pesticide free garden and use pest-ridding remedies that are natural and not reliant on chemicals.
We have a large selection of bee friendly plants here at Newquay Garden Centre, and can offer advice on how to make your garden more bee friendly please pop in store for more information.
