Making Your Landscaping Friendly for Bees
Making Your Landscaping Friendly for Bees
You have probably heard through the news in the past few years that the bees need your help. The 4,000 species of native bees and non-native honey bees in nature have been declining in numbers, and they are vital when it comes to our ecosystem and the food we eat.
The good news is, you can help them out through your landscaping! Here are a few easy ways to create a bee-friendly property for yourself.
Give Up the Chemicals
Ideally, you should avoid using herbicides and pesticides in your landscaping to get rid of weeds and unwanted pests. Instead, try to go for more natural and organic options.
While it is a little more work to deal with, bees will enjoy your backyard a lot more if you hand-pick weeds, tolerate the pests that you can, and get rid of really problematic ones by hand as well. The lack of harsh chemicals make it a much more pleasant area for them to live.
Bee-Friendly Plants and Trees
Bees are incredibly active foragers. Meaning that between early spring all the way to late autumn, they are looking for nectar. To keep them happy and well-fed, consider growing a variety of plants and trees that bloom and provide nectar in the early spring, like dwarf fothergilla and dogwood. Then, also plant some summer bloomers as well, such as hydrangea paniculata and clethra.
The multitude of colors and food will keep the bees active and happy in your landscaping the entire year.
Bees also like plants and flowers with easy access. So, open flowers like prairie rose and heirloom plants with open blooms are a great choice as well. While the more intricate plants do look nice for humans, they don’t do much for bees.
Bee Houses
While becoming a full-fledged beekeeper may seem a little out of reach, bee houses are a great way to keep them in your landscaping.
A bee house is simply a safe place that they can raise their young. Once they leave it during the autumn season, you can clean it out and make sure it’s free of parasites, and use it year after year.
Here are some excellent starter bee houses if you are new to the idea. If you would prefer to build one yourself, these are some great options.
Our Final Thoughts on a Bee-Friendly Landscaping
No matter what sort of space you have when it comes to your personal landscaping, there are many ways to make it friendly for your neighborhood pollinators. If you are not sure where to get started, or just need some assistance along the way, make sure to contact a professional landscaping company to assist you.
For those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area, consider contacting Homescape Now to assist with creating a bee-friendly space. Give us a call today to see what we can do to help!
