Invite bees into your garden by recycling an old wood pallet and adding natural materials you probably have lying around into a cool bee hotel. You need some basic woodworking skills, a saw, nails and a hammer, some waterproof wood varnish plus some chicken wire. There's a step-by-step video guide to help you finish the project. We think it looks bee-autiful!
Native plants are those that are domestic to a certain area and ecosystem. Because bees from particular regions evolve alongside local flowers, it makes sense that they would have a preference for native species. British national plants such as forget-me-nots more or less span the whole country due to the small landmass, however, US native plants have a more localised presence. Check out Native Plant Finder for a list of state-specific varieties.
More and more of us are becoming residential beekeepers. The British Beekeepers Association recommends enthusiasts take a course with a local organisation who can provide a good grounding in caring for bees. In the long term, beekeeping can help advance conservation efforts, increase local pollination and even earn you a bit of money on the side – you could even set up a honey stall at your local farmers' market.
Bees need shade just like we do. Create plenty of ground-level cover with floor-hugging leafy shrubs like hostas and coleus, or establish a beautiful natural canopy that you can enjoy too by installing a wooden pergola on your patio or deck and growing natural climbers such as honeysuckle, passion flower or wisteria – all of which have aromatic blooms packed with pollen and nectar.
Equally as appealing are open tubular-shaped flowers such as foxgloves, honeysuckle, penstemons and snapdragons, where long-tongued bee species can feed sheltered and undisturbed inside the floral bells.
Bees hate chemical pesticides as they can be weakened and even killed by them either by simply walking over the sprayed petals or ingesting contaminated pollen and nectar. Aim to have a pesticide-free garden by using natural alternatives and by encouraging pest eaters such as ladybirds and spiders into your garden.
According to Blooms for Bees, we've lost 98% of the UK's wildflower meadows since the early 20th century, causing a decline in bee numbers. To help redress the balance, why not turn a corner of your garden into a meadow with long grass and wildflowers? Emma Pearce, a horticultural scientist at the Eden Project says, "It’s tempting to cut back perennial plants such as grasses as the summer season comes to an end, but those hollow stems and undergrowth are the ideal habitat for bees and other pollinating insects to nest and larvae to overwinter."
When herbs have seen better days, don't pull them out, instead let them bolt. Bolting is when plants grow quickly and set seeds. Bees are particularly attracted to herb foliage thanks to their aromatic scents and vibrant colours. Chives, lavender and oregano (to name a few) all produce bee-friendly pink and purple flowers – some are edible for humans too.
Even novice gardeners who don't know their rose from their ranunculus can create pretty pots and full flowerbeds that bees will enjoy. Mixed seed bags especially selected for pollinators are available from garden centres and online retailers. Whether you want to be organised and grow perfect patches of the same species or go freestyle with a seed bomb explosion of wildflowers, there's a box of seeds to suit every type of garden.
Some bees hibernate or die off altogether during the winter but others, like the honeybee, work all year long. They survive mainly on honey stores, but with milder winters and seasonally flowering gardens and parks, winter pollinators are no longer an unusual sight. Stagger your planting for year-round blooms. As well as the usual summer flowers, grow daffodils, hyacinths and bluebells in spring and choose snowdrops, crocuses and winter primroses for colder months.
If your garden has a fruit and vegetable patch, no matter how small, consider flowering types such as tomatoes, runner beans, strawberries and raspberry bushes. The bees' pollination will provide a bumper crop, and the pollen and nectar are said to be sweeter for our buzzing friends too.
You don't necessarily need a large garden with long grass and woodpiles to create somewhere for bees to nest. This birdcage has been filled with pebbles and wrapped in ivy. It's shady, dark and cool with plenty of little nooks to crawl into and it won't take up much space in a small garden. Plus it looks as beautiful to us as it does to the bees – win-win!
A contemporary bee block will provide a safe and unobtrusive little nest for bees. Unlike wooden insect hotels, this design won't rot as it's made from white cast concrete, plus it'll look the part in landscaped and urban gardens. It can even be incorporated into a wall or fence.
For a more natural alternative, a bee log makes a beautiful nesting place. It's specially designed to attract the Red Mason bee and the Megachile bee, neither of which sting, making it safe for gardens with children and pets. The tubes are made from drilled canes and provide ideal cavities for bees to lay their eggs, while the bark surround acts as organic insolation throughout the winter.
Good news for some – research by the USDA Forest Service has concluded that mowing the lawn less frequently can significantly improve the habitats of bees. Mowing every three weeks resulted in as much as 2.5 times more lawn flowers such as dandelions and clover and attracted a greater diversity of bee species. Dandelions are a superb pollen source for bees during winter months when there are fewer flowers available – so leave those weeds alone for as long as you can stand it.
Courtyards, terraces or even planted-up balconies can attract bees too. Position pots or hanging baskets in both sunny and shady spots, fill them up with a pollinator's favourite flowers such as lavender and dianthus and listen out for the familiar buzz as bees stop by.
Bee enthusiasts can now use technology to plant the perfect garden that bees, butterflies and other pollinators will love. There are several apps, including BeeSmart Pollinator Gardener, that can help you select specific native plants from a vast database. Or, for American gardeners, install Bumble Bee Watch to learn about and track the bees around you.
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