Gardening with bees in mind

How to create a bee-friendly garden

Spring is the ideal time to revamp your garden and do some planting. If you’re a bee fan – whether you have hives or not – you might want to think about making your garden more attractive to bees. Of course, any flowering plant will bring in some bee activity, but there are some plants that are particularly appealing to the tiny foragers.

In a world where bee populations are declining, cultivating pollen-rich plants is a good way to help them thrive. In fact, gardens with a range of different plants have been shown to be better for bees than single-crop farms, because they provide pollen throughout the summer, rather than all at once.

Whether you have a vast property, a standard back yard, or even a balcony with a couple of plant pots, you can choose to help bees out by choosing some bee-friendly species.

Here are the best plants for bees:

Fresh flowers

Flowers are the most obvious choice when it comes to attracting bees. But not all flowers are created equal – some species bred specially for looks are actually sterile and of little use to bees.

Many bee-friendly flowers can be planted in pots or planters, ideal if you have a deck or patio rather than a large garden. Plant flowers of a single species in larger clumps, if possible, rather than scattered all over the garden. Bees find flowers by colour, and it’s easier to spot a group rather than a single bloom.

Another benefit – flowers add colour and life to your garden, and can attract butterflies as well as bees.

These flowers make for a gorgeous – and bee friendly – garden. We’ve noted when they typically flower, and how easy they are to grow, so you can find the right options for your level of gardening expertise.

Handy herbs

Herbs are a fantastic addition to any garden. Not only do they attract bees, but they’re useful in cooking and easy to grow – even in pots.

Herbs – including marjoram, thyme, fennel, sage and rosemary – are particularly bee-friendly, and useful to have on hand for humans as well. Plants like lavender and borage, although used in cooking less often, are very appealing to bees, and make your garden smell wonderful.

Super shrubs

Herbs and flowers are easy to pop into your garden, but shrubs require more of a commitment – you need the space, time and inclination to invest in planting them. The good news is, once they’re in, they’ll provide years of bee nutrition through annual flowering.

Here are some of the best bee-friendly shrubs to grow in:

Nice natives

Native plants are always a good choice for the garden – they’re naturally suited to New Zealand’s climate, which means they tend to thrive without much effort on your part. Many of our flowering native plants appeal to bees as well.

Choose these natives for your bee-friendly garden:

• Pohutukawa
• Hebe
• Manuka
• Rata
• Whau
• Clematis
• Cabbage tree

Plant for pollen

Remember, the best bee gardens include a range of different plants to provide pollen supplies throughout spring and summer. Plant flowers in clumps for easy spotting, and consider adding a shallow container of water or bird bath to act as a bee water-station. Avoid using pesticides or sprays on your plants, as these can harm or repel bees. After that, all you have to do is enjoy the colours and scents of your new garden – and your visiting bees.

Want to find out more about bee-friendly gardens? Talk to the team at Ecrotek for advice.