plan & plant a bee-friendly garden

plan & plant a bee-friendly garden

Six top tips for attracting bees to your garden. There are many reasons to lay out the welcome mat for bees in your garden and it really is as easy as offering food, shelter and water throughout the year. As primary pollinators, bees are a vital part of both the human and animal food chains, and an integral link in a healthy, happy garden. Across the world, bees have become vulnerable due to urbanisation and loss of habitat, the overuse of pesticides and modern agricultural practises. 1 PLANT BEE ATTRACTING PLANTS Bees are on the hunt for pollen and it s so simple for you to provide it. Scatter a variety of wildflowers to ensure a good supply of pollen through warmer months or you can plant a selection of bee attracting perennials, bulbs and herbs. Honey bees forage all year, but most native bees take a break mid-winter. 6 BECOME A BEEKEEPER Urban and backyard beekeeping is in the midst of a revival as we all come to understand the importance of bees in our food cycle and the role that domesticated honeybees can play in pollinating crops and gardens. If you can t have a hive yourself, support local beekeepers by buying honey directly from them. 2 PROVIDE HABITAT & WATER While honeybees live in colonies and hives, most bee species nest underground or in natural cavities. Make sure your garden provides some basic protected habitat or include an insect house. And don t forget the water. Place bowls of shallow water around the garden and include a rock or landing place in the bowl to enable, bees to drink safely. 3 REDUCE PESTICIDE USE Most pesticides are broad acting, so the more organic your garden, the better it is for all beneficial insects including bees. Exclusion netting is a great way to protect crops without the need for harmful sprays. Also try companion planting it s a natural way to reduce pests in your garden. 4 LET YOUR VEGGIES BOLT Seeding plants are a bee s best friend. All that food gives the bees a chance to bulk up to survive the colder months and make it to spring. It might look messy to an amateur eye, but a healthy garden has a few leafy vegetables bolting after harvest and you get to save some of the seed. One of the best things we can all do for bees, is grow our own food, no matter where we live. And of course to do that, we need to attract these hard-working little pollinators into our gardens. Here are our top tips for getting your own backyard buzzing 5 GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS There are many different types of bees; some local to your area, some to your state, others to Australia, as well as several introduced species. Stop and take the time to learn which bees are visiting your garden. It s important to know the difference that you can offer suitable accommodation.

Annuals code: S523 code: S869 code: S312 Cosmos Pinkie Meadow Daisy Dill Size: 120cm x 30cm Size: 8cm x 6cm Size: 100cm x 25cm Annual flowers germinate, flower, set seed and die all within a single year. These plants have a short life but more than make up for it in their floral display. They live by the mantra live hard, die young! Zinnia Queen Red Lime Size: 120cm x 50cm code: S858 Chives Common /part shade Size: 40cm x 10cm code: S3061 Cornflower Dwarf Blue Size: 40cm x 10cm code: SWCOD

Bulbs code: BFRRE40 code: BALCO code: BDAER10 Freesia Alba Allium Giant White Daffodil Earlicheer Position: Full Sun/Part Shade Size: 15cm x 80cm September October Size: 100cm x 5cm October November Size: 40cm x 10cm July August Bulbs are a vital food source for both native and honey bees. Rich in nectar, bulbs offer autumn, winter, spring and summer food supplies. Suited to pots as well as garden beds, bulbs are perfect for gardens of all sizes. code: BRDG20 Ranunculus Pastel Shades Mix Size: 30cm x 5cm September November Saffron Crocus Size: 10cm x 5cm February March code: BSAC3 Anemone Diggers Size: 50cm x 5cm August October code: BASC20

Perennials code: PSAMY code: PACHG code: WECHP Salvia Mystic Spires Achillea Hella Glashoff Echium Silver Pink Size: 40cm x 30cm December April Size: 50cm x 50cm November March Size: 300cm x 150cm October November Perennials are the mainstay of the bee garden, flowering for several months and providing ample opportunity for pollen and nectar collection which is vital for feeding the colony and helping it to reproduce. Catmint Giant Size: 60cm x 60cm October November code: PCATU Verbena Bonariensis Size: 200cm x 45cm November April code: PVEB Agastache Pink Fortune Size: 100cm x 50cm October April code: PAGCP

Herbs code: PROT code: S3051 code: S324 Rosemary Tuscan Blue Position: full sun Size: 150cm x 80cm October January Borage Blue Size: 80cm x 40cm December March Sage Size: 30cm x 25cm Popular companion plants, bees love the flowering phase of many herbs. Fortunately for your bees, herbs usually help to bridge the gap between flowering seasons of more popular flowering plants. Bergamot Panorama Size: 120cm x 50cm code: S330 Lemon Balm Size: 60cm x 30cm code: S314 Mint Size: 60cm x 60cm code: PMOM

For more information and ideas for attracting beneficial insects to your garden visit Diggers.com.au