Planting for Bees Planting for Pollinators Many people get pleasure from gardening but it also provides essential food sources for pollinators. Whether you are a small or large scale gardener there are suitable plants for everyone. It doesn't matter if your garden is a balcony, allotment, window box, pots and tubs or a swathe of green open space; with a bit of thought pollinators can benefit from a banquet of pollen and nectar right throughout the year. You can help all the bees: honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees, by planting more flowers for them to feed on. Honey bees are reliant on both nectar and pollen throughout their life cycle and they need food in order to make and store enough honey to see them through the winter months as they do not hibernate. Choose plants with single, open flowers for easy access to the pollen and nectar and plant several plants together in a group to attract the bees. Bees are also more attracted to colourful plants as they are easier to find. Think about plants (including trees and shrubs) that flower at different times so there is food available throughout the whole year but especially from March through to October. Fruit trees are an excellent source of pollen and there are also a number of shrubs which are useful for providing pollen and/or nectar for bees. You can find out more information in our downloadable BBKA leaflets: Trees for Bees and Shrubs for Bees. An established tree can provide valuable nourishment at a time when there are no other plants in flower. Mixed hedges are also a good source of food for pollinators as well as providing a great habitat for birds, mammals and other insects. Leave a section of your lawn to grow longer so the weeds and wildflowers have a chance to grow. Dandelions are a great source of pollen for bees early in the year at a time when there is very little other food about. Bees also like white and red clover. One of the best, and easiest, ways to encourage wildlife into your garden is to create a ‘mini meadow’ on your lawn. This helps not just honey bees but all pollinators. Consider taking part in 'No Mow May' an annual campaign organised by Plantlife. Deadhead flowers regularly to prolong blooming, water plants well as this helps to promote nectar production and prune as necessary to ensure healthy plants come back each year. Try to use natural fertilizers where possible and avoid pesticides. Encourage ladybirds etc into the garden as they will eat aphids and other garden pests. It is also important to provide a water source for pollinators - a shallow dish with stones and pebbles is ideal. You can find more information about suitable flowers in our BBKA leaflet: Ten favourite flowers to attract Honeybees or have a look at our 'Gardening for Bees' page and our planting blogs for further useful information. Other useful websites: https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/research/plants-for-pollinatorshttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/best-plants-bees-and-pollinatorshttps://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/all-about-plantshttps://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plants-for-bees/https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/gardening-beeshttps://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/gardening/ Manage Cookie Preferences