Planting a Bee Garden

Bees pollinate the flowers we love to look at. I think most of us know that. But did you know that bees also pollinate about a third of the food that we eat? They are essential to our lives and to the planet. Unfortunately, pesticides, habitat loss and other factors have combined to threaten bee populations around the world.

How can you help? Well, there are a few ways you can help the bees and one of those ways is right in your own back yard – or could be soon.

Planting a bee garden is a great way (one of the best) to help bees to thrive, while enjoying gardening and beautiful flowers.

BENEFITS OF A BEE GARDEN:

• Can increase pollination,
• Help reduce global warming,
• Promote biodiversity,
• Turns your yard into a relaxing outdoor space.

THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR YOUR GARDEN:

• opt for plants that bloom at various times of the year to provide constant food for the bees,
• choose native plants since they are more likely to attract bees native to your area,
• Also plant a variety so you will be attracting various types of bees.
  
  

WHERE TO PLANT YOUR BEE GARDEN:

• The best spot for a bee garden should be sunny with soil that drains well.
• It is also essential to provide some shade too during hot weather.
  
  

SHELTER FOR THE BEES:

• Building bee hotels is a wonderful way to help the bees both during extreme weather and when they aren’t busy pollinating. We will talk more about that in another post.
• You can still provide some shelter in your garden by piling up dead branches.
  
  

MAINTAINING YOUR BEE GARDEN:

• Be sure to water, fertilize and prune regularly,
• Pest control is important for your bee garden, but you should avoid pesticides since they can harm bees and other beneficial insects.
• It can also be helpful to humans to provide clear signage, letting them know that bees frequent this area.

Planting a bee garden is an excellent way to contribute to the conservation of bee populations worldwide. A bee garden not only provides a sustainable habitat for bees, but I t also helps us connect with nature, enjoy beautiful flowers, and appreciate the importance of our ecosystem. By taking the time to plan a bee garden, you’re making a significant impact on the environment, and ultimately on the health of our planet.