Are you looking for a buzz-worthy way to start attracting more bees to your garden? Not only do these tiny flying friends provide an invaluable service for the growth of our crops, but they also help make any backyard look beautiful.
Look no further, below will be a guide to boost bee diversity and creating your very own bee-friendly garden.
What Is Bee Gardening?
Bee gardening is creating a haven for our pollinator friends, specifically bees. With the purpose of attracting bees to a garden filled with flowers, herbs, and plants that provide them with plenty of nectar and pollen.
The garden should also offer shelter from the elements, as well as bee-friendly plants, such as tall grasses or shrubs, to help protect them from wind and rain.
When you create your own bee garden, you’re providing a safe and beautiful environment not only for the bees but for other beneficial insects as well. Below are some helpful tips to start your very own bee-loving garden.
What Attracts Bees To Your Property?
Native bees are naturally attracted to properties that offer a variety of flowers, flowering herbs, and shrubs. Many species of yellow-faced bees are drawn to the flower shape, bright colors, patterns, and aromas found in flowers. Such as the Burpee Wildflower Seed Mix for Pollinators.
Electric fields produced by flowers can also attract bees, helping them navigate between different floral shapes. This helps them determine whether a flower has been recently visited by other beneficial pollinators.
Planting a diverse range of native flowers and shrubs in your yard can help attract bees. Be sure to include native plants that have adapted to the local climate, as this will provide essential resources for our buzzing friends. By providing a suitable environment on your property, you can welcome these pollinators and enjoy their presence!
How To Design A Bee Garden?
Designing a bee garden is an exciting and rewarding project that can help you welcome buzzing pollinators to your property. With the right plants, materials, and environment, you can create a bee-friendly haven in your very own backyard!
By utilizing vibrant colors and fragrances, providing ample food sources for bees to feed on throughout the year, and avoiding chemical pesticides, you can attract a variety of bees to your property. So let’s get started – just follow these simple steps and you’ll be ready to welcome bee visitors in no time!
Bee Hotels
A bee hotel, such as the Navaris XL Wooden Insect Hotel, is a great way to entice bees, as well as other pollinating insects, to stay in your garden space.
These specially designed homes provide wild bees with an ideal place to lay their eggs and watch the larvae come to life inside.
Choose a spot in the sunlight and part shade for these bee beds, as this will provide the warmth and security that bees need. Adding a bee hotel to your garden is an easy and fun way to welcome these important pollinators, giving them a place to call home!
Don’t Use Pesticides!
It is important to avoid the use of pesticides when creating a bee-friendly garden. Pesticides contain toxic chemicals that can kill or harm bees, as well as other pollinators like butterflies and ladybugs.
Even if used correctly, these chemicals can reduce the number of bees in your yard by killing them directly or reducing food sources.
Pesticides can remain in the soil for years and may still be present when your bee garden is established. So skip the pesticides and instead focus on providing a safe and nurturing environment for bees to thrive!
Keep Some Weeds
Weeding your bee garden too much can be detrimental to the health of bees. Although some weeds may seem like an eyesore, they are actually beneficial for bees as they provide a source of nectar and pollen.
For example, dandelions, clovers, and buttercups attract many pollinators, including honeybees and bumblebees.
Water-Bees
Bees need water to survive, just like any other living creature! Water is essential for bees and other pollinators in order to keep them hydrated and provide necessary nourishment.
Bees use water to cool their hives during hot summer days, and they often build mud nests near sources of fresh drinking water.
Many species of bees collect dew droplets and other water sources to mix with their food. By providing a clean, shallow source of water in your bee garden, you can help these buzzing friends stay healthy and happy!
Provide Some Shade
Bees need shady areas to thrive. Shady areas provide bees with a cooler environment that is conducive to their activities, such as building hives and larvae development.
Providing shade for bees can be done by planting trees, shrubs, tall grasses, and wildflowers. If you can position bee hotels in the right spot to get sun and shade, they will thank you.
Just Keep Planting
Providing a variety of flowers in your garden all year round is key to creating an inviting environment for bees. A diverse range of flowering plants will attract native bees, increasing the number of pollinators and improving the health of your garden!
Try adding early-flowering varieties such as crocuses and snowdrops in the spring, blooms that last from summer to fall such as lavender, and evergreens like winter heather in the winter.
By taking the time to plan your garden with different plants that bloom throughout all four seasons, you can ensure that bees will have plenty of nutritious nectar and pollen sources for them to enjoy!
27 Bee-Friendly Pants
When it comes to creating a bee-friendly garden, there are certain flowers and herbs that bees simply can’t resist!
Keeping in mind that native plants are one of the best ways to keep pollinators coming back. Here is a list of flowers and herbs that should give you a good start. If you want to check what plants are native to your area, check out Native Plant Finder for more bee garden ideas.
1. Lavender
One of the most bee-friendly plants out there. For best results, choose a variety of lavender that is hardy in your zone. Most varieties are hardy from Zones 5 to 9 and are best grown as annuals.
2. Sunflowers
We know sunflowers for their bright, cheery blooms, and they are hardy in zones 4 to 9. Plant them in an area with full sun, and be sure to water them regularly. They will provide bees with a source of pollen and nectar for several weeks throughout the summer.
3. Purple Coneflower
Purple Coneflower is a low-maintenance, easy-to-care-for flower that adds a burst of color to any garden. This sun-loving plant is hardy in zones 4 to 9.
4. Borage
Borage is a hardy annual that can thrive in zones 3 to 10. It produces beautiful blue flowers and has a lovely sweet scent that attracts pollinators.
5. White Clover
White Clover is a perennial that is hardy in zones 3 to 10. It has stunning white flowers and deep green leaves that are sure to attract bees. The bonus of White Clover is that it can help to improve soil fertility and act as a natural weed suppressor.
6. Thyme
Thyme is a hardy perennial herb that is best grown in zones 2 to 10. Thyme can be grown in pots or directly in the ground and will bloom throughout the summer months.
7. Foxglove
Foxglove is a biennial that is hardy in zones 4 to 9. It produces tall, showy flowers that come in a variety of colors. Foxglove is poisonous to both humans and animals, so be careful where you plant them.
8. Catmint
Catmint is a perennial that is best grown in zones 3-8. It produces a delightful blue flower and has a soothing, sweet scent that makes for perfect nesting sites.
9. Daisy Fleabane
Daisy Fleabane is a perennial that is best grown in zones 2-8. To ensure that Daisy Fleabane thrives, make sure to plant it in well-drained soil.
10. Lupine
Lupine is a hardy perennial that grows best in zones 7-9. It prefers full sun and is best grown in cooler areas to ensure its health. Unfortunately, the deep south’s heat and humidity can compromise lupines.
11. Marigolds
Bees adore marigolds are hardy in Zones 2-11 and they do best in warmer months. They will have a longer blooming season in Zones 10 or higher, where temperatures don’t dip close to freezing even later in the winter.
12. Wild Geraniums
Wild geraniums are native to Eastern North America and can be found growing from Southern Ontario to Georgia and west to eastern Oklahoma and the Dakotas. Hardy in Zones 3 to 8, these tough plants are quite adaptable and will thrive in woodlands or shady roadsides.
13. Sage
Sage is a hardy perennial that can be grown in Zones 5-8. Sage is a sure bet to attract honeybees.
16. Rosemary
Rosemary is an outstanding perennial performer in Zones 7 to 10 with reports of it thriving in Zone 6 not uncommon.
15. Phacelia
Phacelia is a hardy annual that grows best in Zones 7 to 10. They are a superb choice for attracting pollinators as it blooms for long stretches of time and has sweet nectar that butterflies love.
16. Asters
Asters are beautiful and hardy flowers that can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8. Be sure to check your zone before planting so you know what varieties to choose. Asters come in a variety of heights, making them an ideal choice for borders and beds.
17. Bergamot (Bee Balm)
Bee balm is an attractive and fragrant herb that will thrive in hardiness zones 3-9. Plant it in your garden in full sun to get the most blooms and fragrance, though it will also tolerate partial shade in warmer climates. Bee balm will attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
18. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla)
Lady’s Mantle is a hardy perennial that can be grown in zones 3-8. To encourage more blooming, cut the foliage back after flowering to promote fresh growth.
19. Buckwheat
Buckwheat tends to be grown in cooler and more northern locations, but it can also thrive in zones 3 to 10.
20. Oregano
Oregano is a hardy perennial that can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-10. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil for best results. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy, and harvest frequently to encourage new growth.
21. Mexican Sunflower
Mexican Sunflowers are an annual that can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11.
22. Salvia
Salvia is a hardy perennial that can be grown in zones 4-10.
23. Cosmos
Cosmos are an annual that can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11.
24. Joe-Pye Weed
Joe-Pye Weed is a cold hardy plant that grows well in USDA Zones 4 to 8.
25. Zinnias
Zinnias are easy-to-grow annuals that thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10.
26. Echinacea
Echinacea is a perennial that can be grown in Zones 3 – 9. I
27. Blackberry Blossoms
Blackberry Blossoms are a hardy perennial that can be grown in Zones 5-9.
These plants and flowers can provide a steady source of nectar and pollen, helping bees to thrive in your garden all year round. When planning your bee garden, try to mix it up with different varieties and colors of blooms so that you can attract different species of bees!
We recommend that you research native plant varieties that are well-suited for your area and naturalize your bee garden with these species. By doing this, you can ensure that the pollinators in your garden have a safe, reliable source of food for many years to come.
Conclusion
If you want to make a difference in the world and create a haven for our buzzing busy bees, now is the time! Get your bee-friendly garden started by stocking up on flower seeds that bees prefer such as the Burpee Wildflower Seed Mix for Pollinators and by investing in a bee hotel.
By providing a safe home for bees, you’ll be helping them to survive and thrive all year round – and you’ll be making a difference in the world. Don’t wait – start your bee garden today and make a positive change!