Gardening for bees
The importance of bees is indisputable, but unfortunately the UK’s bee population is under threat
Bees visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen, which they eat and feed to their larvae. By moving from flower to flower, they are vital pollinators of many garden and wild flowers. Insect pollination is also essential for the cropping of a huge amount of the food we eat. We rely on bees every day, in both our gardens and allotments, and in the farmers’ fields. The bee population is declining rapidly due to a number of factors, including an increased use of pesticides and a loss of natural habitats such as meadows and hedgerows.
So it’s really important that we make our gardens as bee-friendly as possible. There are a few simple things that you can do to give bees a much-needed helping hand.
Plant flowers
The best ways to encourage bees of all types into your garden is to provide nectar and pollen-rich flowers throughout the year.
Try to have a range of different flowers in bloom from early Spring all the way to late Autumn, so that there is nectar available throughout the year. Ivy is a great choice to provide late season nectar in Autumn, and is often used by honey bees. Winter flowering plants give a source of nectar in the very coldest months. Some of our favourites are sweet box (Sarcacocca confusa), hellebores and the winter-flowering clematis, Clematis cirrhosa.
Bees tend to be attracted to plants with flowers that are blue, purple and violet, so these are a great option to include in planting. Open flowers, with the pollen and nectar easily accessible are also important – recent cultivars of double or multi-petalled flowers, though undoubtedly attractive, often prevent the bee from finding an easy way in to the centre, many are also nectar free. That’s not to say don’t plant flowers with multiple layers of petals, but do try to include some more simple flowers alongside them as well. This is especially true for roses, with many of the more showy modern cultivars being much less good for bees.
Many garden centres use labels to tell you which plants are bee friendly, and there is an extensive list on the RHS website: plants for pollinators.
These are some of our favourites, that we use frequently in our designs:
Water
A honeybee colony can drink up to 4 litres of water in a day, so be sure to provide water! Bees can’t swim or land on water, so the shallow planted margins of a wildlife pond are perfect, or you could provide water in a shallow dish or bird bath with some small stones placed in it to allow them to land and drink safely.
If you have a bird bath or other shallow container, be sure to check it regularly in hot summer months, and top up when needed.
Bee habitats
You don’t need to have your own hive to have bees living in your garden, it is simple to provide nest sites for all different species of bees. You can buy some very beautiful bug boxes, or easily make your own.
Some bees will nest in hollow stems or bamboo canes, or in holes drilled into a post or log. Place these nest sites in sunny positions. Some solitary bees nest in the ground, either in bare soil or short turf. You may even find tree bumblebees nesting in a bird box!
Avoid pesticides
Avoid using any pesticides or insecticides on your plants. These will harm all insects, including bees, not just the ones you are trying to eliminate. There has been plenty of research that shows the worldwide decline in bees is caused in part by use of neonicotinoids – a type of pesticide used in horticulture and agriculture – which has been subsequently banned in many countries. This is likely only the tip of the iceberg, so don’t assume that other insecticides are safe for bees. Far better than spraying if you have a bug infestation, is to encourage the right habitats for predators to come and deal with the problem for you. See our guide to gardening for wildlife for more on this.
Enjoy your bees!
There is something magical about listening to the drowsy buzz of a bumblebee on a summer’s day, but some of our clients have told us they worry about having bees in their garden, especially if they have young children. Honestly, there is no need to be afraid of bees! Getting stung is unlikely, as long as you treat bees with respect; they will not sting unless they think they are in danger. You should avoid disturbing bumblebee nests or standing too close to a bee hive unless you are wearing a beekeeper’s suit.
And finally, if you see a bee in your garden that is on the floor or looking a bit worse for wear then a simple solution of sugar and water can help revive exhausted bees. Mix a few drops of water with a little bit of sugar on a spoon and place next to the bee so that it can have a little drink and will hopefully gather the energy to fly again!
