Plant some bee-friendly flowers!
Bees are one of the most important pollinators in the world. Why not do your bit to help the bee population by encouraging them to your garden? You can do this planting some bee-friendly flowers in a variety of colours. Not only will they attract bees and other wildlife, but they’ll also leave your garden looking absolutely bee-autiful!
Flowers that are the bees-knees
Before you get planting, you’ll need to know what flowers bees enjoy the most. Here are some of their favourite flowers and when they bloom:
After choosing your flowers, it’s time to gather your materials for planting. You’ll need:
Seeds
Flowerbed, window box or pot
Nutrient-rich soil and compost
Trowel
Watering can
Step 1: Finding the perfect spot
- You can choose to plant your flowers directly into a flowerbed, or you can plant the seeds in a window box or pot
- Choose a sunny spot to plant your seeds. Most spring and summer blooming flowers need full or at least partial sunshine to thrive
Step 2: Preparing your spot
- After finding the perfect spot, make sure to clear it of any weeds. Dig down deep into the soil and remove the bulb and roots
- To prepare your soil, add some compost and turn it over with your trowel. This helps to give flowers nutrients and prevent water-logging
Step 3: Planting your seeds
- After you’ve chosen your spot and prepared the soil, you can scatter your seeds
- Make sure to space your seeds out. Different plants will have different spacing instructions, so be sure to follow the guidance on the seed packet!
- After sprinkling your seeds, cover them with a thin layer of sieved soil or compost
Be sure to water your soil regularly, especially during particularly hot or dry days!
Keep an eye on the bees once your flowers bloom – they can get tired and sometimes need a rest. Just let them be and they should fly off again soon. If you notice a bee resting in a busy area, you can very carefully move it to a quieter spot or a nearby flower. Make sure you wear gloves as it may sting. You can also move it using a leaf or stone
Share photos of your finished flowers using #DobbiesLittleSeedlings and tag us. Bonus points if you snap a photo of a bee enjoying your blossoms!
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