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How to Make a Bee Friendly Garden

Dec 19, 2024
Bees are one of nature’s most important pollinators, so it’s essential to give them a place to nest and thrive. No matter how big your garden is, our bee-friendly garden ideas will help you create an outdoor space that provides bees with the nectar, pollen and shelter they need to survive.
 
Ready to create your bee-friendly garden? Whether you’re a nature lover or looking for a fun outdoor activity to do with the kids, transform your garden into a paradise for bees and look out for new visitors.
 

Planting for pollinators: Choosing the right flowers

The first step in attracting bees to your garden is choosing the right flowers and plants. Bees are attracted to colourful flowering plants with a high nectar content, so opt for bee-friendly flowers, shrubs and plants to ensure these insects visit your garden year after year.
 
Some flowers bees love include:
 
• Lavender
• Honeysuckle
• Sunflower
• Bee balm
 

Year-round blooms: Creating a continuous flowering period

Choose a selection of plants that attract different bee species at various times of year. Most bees become active in spring and summer, so try to plan for many of your bee-friendly plants to flower at this time. However, make sure there are bee-friendly plants in your garden all year round – some bee species stay active until autumn, while others emerge from hibernation towards the end of winter and rely on early blooms!
 

Make a bee hotel

Not all bees live in a hive, so create a bee hotel in your garden to attract these insects and give them a safe space to nest. Solitary bees build nests in small holes, stems and tunnels, so use wood, reeds and bamboo canes to construct your bee hotel.
 
The design is up to you, but make sure it features plenty of protected areas for bees to rest and build nests. And remember, bees rely on warmth from the sun to become active, so place your hotel in full sun, either facing south or southeast.
 

Embrace weeds

If you want to populate your garden with bees, resist the urge to get rid of your weeds. Common weeds like dandelions and thistles are an excellent nectar source for bees. Some weeds also flower year-round, which is a plus for attracting a variety of bee species that are active at different times of the year. 
 

Avoid pesticides

Pesticides can limit damage caused by pests like caterpillars and slugs, but did you know they also keep bees away? Bees are one of the best insects to invite into your garden, and chemical pesticides can kill them and other important species. Instead of clamping down on insects in your garden, switch to natural fertilisers to encourage strong and healthy plant growth. 
 
From planting flowers to building a bee hotel, it’s easy to turn your garden into a bee-friendly haven! Follow our tips to create a garden perfect for bees and watch your outdoor space swarm with wildlife. 
 
Explore our new build homes with beautiful gardens that you can transform into a bee-friendly space. Browse unique homebuying offers to help you move, including Part Exchange and Deposit Boost.
 
Contact our Sales Advisers today to learn more. 
 

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