Top Tips for Planting a Bee-Friendly Garden
Climate change has restricted the area where bees can survive, and the pollinators have struggled to adapt, according to new research (published in the journal Science).
This means that planting a bee-friendly garden should become a priority when planning one.
Interestingly enough, bee-friendly gardens also contribute to increasing bee varieties. If you are considering planting a vegetable patch, another bonus you can look forward to is a bountiful harvest of vegetables as much of the heavy work of pollinating vegetable crops is done by honey bees.
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If you have a garden already and would like to start creating a bee-friendly haven, then doing so isn’t as complicated as you may think. Here are a few tips, supplied by Garden Master, which will assist you in your quest to positively impact the environment:
1. Choose plants that attract bees
This is fairly self-explanatory but there are certain plants that are more attractive to bees than others. These plants include the likes of basil, sage, thyme, lavender, watermelons, cucumbers and pumpkin.
2. Group the same plants together
If you have space, try to plant at least one square metre of the same type of plant together.
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3. Pick plants with long blooming cycles
This will keep the bees coming back for more.
4. Let your plants flower
Leave the flowers on your plants, this will allow the honeybees to get the pollen and nectar they need.
5. Create a freshwater source
Any shallow water source will do; a birdbath, a waterfall, a pool or even newly watered potted plants are good for bees.
6. Avoid using pesticides or other chemicals
Most chemicals are toxic to bees, so when in doubt, rather leave it out.
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7. Weeds
Flowering weeds are very important food sources for bees.