plan & plant a bee-friendly garden - the diggers club · 2018-05-09 · plan & plant a...

plan & plant a bee-friendly garden

Six top tips for attracting bees to your garden.There are many reasons to lay out the welcome mat for bees in your garden and it really is as easy as offering food, shelter and water throughout the year.

As primary pollinators, bees are a vital part of both the human and animal food chains, and an integral link in a healthy, happy garden. Across the world, bees have become vulnerable due to urbanisation and loss of habitat, the overuse of pesticides and modern agricultural practises.

One of the best things we can all do for bees, is grow our own food, no matter where we live. And of course to do that, we need to attract these hard-working little pollinators into our gardens.

Here are our top tips for getting your own backyard buzzing…

1PLANT BEE

ATTRACTING PLANTSBees are on the hunt for pollen and it’s so simple for you to provide it. Scatter a variety of wildflowers to

ensure a good supply of pollen through warmer months or you can plant a

selection of bee attracting perennials, bulbs and herbs. Honey bees forage

all year, but most native bees take a break

mid-winter.

2 PROVIDE HABITAT & WATERWhile honeybees live in colonies and hives, most bee species nest

underground or in natural cavities. Make sure your garden provides some basic protected habitat or include an insect house. And don’t forget the water. Place bowls of shallow water around the garden and include a rock

or landing place in the bowl to enable, bees to

drink safely.

3REDUCE PESTICIDE USE

Most pesticides are broad acting, so the more organic your garden, the better it is for all beneficial insects including bees. Exclusion netting is a great way to protect

crops without the need for harmful sprays. Also try companion planting

– it’s a natural way to reduce pests in your garden.

4 LET YOUR VEGGIES BOLT

Seeding plants are a bee’s best friend. All that food gives the

bees a chance to bulk up to survive the colder months and make it to spring. It might look messy

to an amateur eye, but a healthy garden has a few leafy vegetables

bolting after harvest – and you get to save some of

the seed.

5GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS

There are many different types of bees; some local to your area,

some to your state, others to Australia, as well as several

introduced species. Stop and take the time to learn which bees are

visiting your garden. It’s important to know the difference that

you can offer suitable accommodation.

6BECOME A BEEKEEPER

Urban and backyard beekeeping is in the midst of a revival as we all

come to understand the importance of bees in our food cycle and the role

that domesticated honeybees can play in pollinating crops and gardens.

If you can’t have a hive yourself, support local beekeepers by

buying honey directly from them.

Position: Full sunSize: 40cm x 10cmFlowers: Water: Drought-tolerant

Cornflower ‘Dwarf Blue’

code: SWcod

Position: Full sunSize: 100cm x 25cmFlowers: Water: Seasonal

Dill


Zinnia ‘Queen Red Lime’


Meadow Daisy

Position: Full sunSize: 120cm x 30cmFlowers: Water: Drought-tolerant

Cosmos ‘Pinkie’

code: S858

code: S312code: S869code: S523

Position: Full sun/part shadeSize: 40cm x 10cmFlowers: Water: Drought-tolerant

Chives ‘Common’

code: S3061

Annuals

Annual flowers

germinate, flower, set seed

and die all within a single

year. These plants have

a short life but more than

make up for it in their

floral display. They live by

the mantra live hard,

die young!

Position: Full sunSize: 50cm x 5cmFlowers: August – OctoberWater: Drought-tolerant

Anemone ‘Diggers’

code: BASc20

Position: Full sunSize: 40cm x 10cmFlowers: July – AugustWater: Drought-tolerant

Daffodil ‘Earlicheer’

Position: Full sunSize: 10cm x 5cmFlowers: February – MarchWater: Drought-tolerant

Saffron Crocus

Position: Full sunSize: 30cm x 5cmFlowers: September – NovemberWater: Drought-tolerant

Ranunculus ‘Pastel Shades Mix’

Position: Full sunSize: 100cm x 5cmFlowers: October – NovemberWater: Drought-tolerant

Allium ‘Giant White’

Position: Full Sun/Part ShadeSize: 15cm x 80cmFlowers: September – OctoberWater: Drought-tolerant

Freesia ‘Alba’

code: BSAc3code: BRdG20

code: BdAeR10code: BALcocode: BFRRe40

Bulbs

Bulbs are a vital food

source for both native and

honey bees. Rich in nectar,

bulbs offer autumn, winter,

spring and summer food

supplies. Suited to pots as well

as garden beds, bulbs are

perfect for gardens

of all sizes.

Perennials are the

mainstay of the bee garden,

flowering for several months

and providing ample

opportunity for pollen and

nectar collection which is

vital for feeding the colony

and helping it to reproduce.

Position: Full sunSize: 100cm x 50cmFlowers: October – AprilWater: Drought-tolerant

Agastache ‘Pink Fortune’

code: PAGcP


Echium ‘Silver Pink’

Position: Full sunSize: 200cm x 45cmFlowers: November – AprilWater: Drought-tolerant

Verbena Bonariensis


Catmint ‘Giant’

Position: Full sunSize: 50cm x 50cmFlowers: November – MarchWater: Drought-tolerant

Achillea ‘Hella Glashoff’

Position: Full sunSize: 40cm x 30cmFlowers: December – AprilWater: Drought-tolerant

Salvia ‘Mystic Spires’

code: PVeBcode: PcATU

code: WecHPcode: PAcHGcode: PSAMY

Perennials


Mint

code: PMoM


Sage


Lemon Balm

Position: Full sunSize: 80cm x 40cmFlowers: December – MarchWater: Seasonal

Borage ‘Blue’

Position: full sunSize: 150cm x 80cmFlowers: October – JanuaryWater: Drought-tolerant

Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’

code: S314

code: S324code: S3051code: PRoT


Bergamot ‘Panorama’

code: S330

Herbs

Popular companion

plants, bees love the

flowering phase of many

herbs. Fortunately for your

bees, herbs usually help

to bridge the gap between

flowering seasons of more

popular flowering plants.

For more information

and ideas for attracting

beneficial insects to

your garden visit

Diggers.com.au

plan & plant a bee-friendly garden - the diggers club · 2018-05-09 · plan & plant a...

Documents