How to attract bees into a garden

Attracting bees into your garden 

Its easy to attract and support bees in your garden with food from flower and shelter.

Bees are attracted to flowers, so one way to attract bees to your garden is to plant a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. Some good plants to consider for attracting bees include lavender, foxglove, sunflowers, daisies, and borage. You could also consider planting a variety of herbs, such as basil, mint, and thyme, which are also attractive to bees. In addition to planting flowers and herbs, you can also attract bees by providing a source of water, such as a shallow dish filled with water and pebbles or a small water feature.

There are many flowering plants that are attractive to bees. Here are a few examples:

1. Lavender: This fragrant herb is a favorite of bees and other pollinators.
2. Foxglove: These tall, elegant flowers are a great source of nectar for bees.
3. Sunflowers: The large, bright flowers of the sunflower plant are a favorite of bees.
4. Daisies: These cheerful flowers are a great source of nectar for bees and other pollinators.
5. Borage: The bright blue flowers of the borage plant are a favorite of bees and other pollinators.
6. Basil: This fragrant herb is a great source of nectar for bees.
7. Mint: The fragrant leaves of mint plants are a favorite of bees.
8. Thyme: The small, fragrant flowers of thyme plants are a favorite of bees and other pollinators.

In addition to these plants, there are many other flowering plants that are attractive to bees, such as roses, cosmos, and marigolds.

As well as providing flowers for bees there are several ways you can provide shelter for bees in your garden:

1. Build a bee hotel: A bee hotel is a structure designed to provide nesting sites for solitary bees. It can be as simple as a wooden box with holes drilled into it, or a more elaborate structure with multiple chambers.
2. Plant a hedge: Planting a hedge of flowering shrubs can provide shelter for bees as well as a source of nectar.
3. Leave areas of your garden wild: Allowing a corner of your garden to grow wild can provide shelter and nesting sites for bees and other wildlife.
4. Provide a water source: Bees need water to survive, so providing a shallow dish filled with water and pebbles or a small water feature can help to attract bees to your garden.
5. Install a beehive: If you are interested in keeping bees, you can install a beehive in your garden. This will provide a permanent home for a colony of bees and help to pollinate your garden.

Learn more about the GardenAdvice Bee projects with our young gardeners Click Here