Our gardens can be havens for wildlife, particularly those vital pollinators like bees and butterflies. These little critters play a massive role in our ecosystem, pollinating their little hearts out and ensuring a healthy supply of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and in truth, it only takes a little bit of planning and care to boost how friendly our gardens are for them!
Create your own slice of pollinator paradise with ease.
Be mindful of the flowers you plant and grow, as some are richer in nectar and pollen than others – simply delicious to pollinators, with single blooms like sunflowers, daisies, and foxgloves preferred. Even in the kitchen garden, your everyday herbs like lavender, rosemary, and mint are magnets to bees.
On top of your flower varieties, try to keep in mind what months blooms emerge and aim to have a succession of flowers that stretches across as many months as possible.
For example, early bloomers like Crocuses and Snowdrops welcome spring pollinators, while summer stalwarts like Poppies and Buddleia keep the feast going. Add late interest around autumn with Sedums and Dahlias.
General garden maintenance and becoming mindful of the tools and chemicals you use can also make a big impact on how friendly pollinators view your garden.
Pesticides are harmful to them, so instead opt for natural pest control methods, while you can purchase an incredibly clever bee hotel, for those solitary bee species.
While you may yearn for a picture-perfect garden with very few leaves out of place, leaving a ‘messy corner’ with leaves and twigs piled up will provide shelter for those overwintering pollinators – they will certainly appreciate it.
All in all, there is something you can be doing during every month on the calendar to help our buzzing friends. Here is just a bit of inspiration:
- January: Plan some winter-flowering plants like Hellebores for early pollinators.
- February: Prune shrubs and trees to encourage healthy growth and more flowers during the growing season.
- March: Plan your pollinator haven. Choose plants suited to your climate and sunlight levels.
- April: Sow seeds for summer bloomers and plant early flowering bulbs.
- May: Deadhead any spent early flowers to encourage new blooms.
- June: Provide a shallow dish of water with pebbles for thirsty pollinators.
- July: Leave some ‘weeds’, like dandelions, to flower as they’re a great food source.
- August: Harvest herbs and encourage new growth by cutting back some stems.
- September: Plant spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips.
- October: Clear away dead plant material to create nesting sites for solitary bees.
- November: Tidy up borders but leave some stems for overwintering insects.
- December: Make a bee hotel using hollow bamboo canes or wood with drilled holes, or purchase one and get it set up in your garden.
By following these tips and incorporating a little monthly care, your garden can become a vibrant hub for pollinators.
