April 26, 2024 • 14 mins
In this episode, we unlock the secrets to transforming your patch of green into a thriving sanctuary for bees. Amid the challenges of industrial agriculture, diseases, and climate change, bees are facing an uphill battle, and our discussion focuses on how every flower choice and garden design can tip the balance in their favour. From the stunning salvia to the humble candytuft, we explore a palette of plants that not only please the eye but also offer a veritable buffet for our buzzing friends.
'How I Grow' is produced by The Seed Collection Pty Ltd.
Find out more about us here: www.theseedcollection.com.au
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to how I Grow with the Seed
Collection, and today I'll betalking about how to make your
garden a haven for bees.
Here you'll learn all about howto attract these beneficial
insects to your garden.
Bees are an essential part ofthe global ecosystem.
Without their help inpollination, around 35% of the
(00:21):
world's food harvest would be inserious trouble, with many
familiar crops dying outaltogether.
Bees are under threat fromindustrial agriculture, disease
and climate change.
In particular, honeybees havesuffered losses of up to a third
of their populations across theworld.
While the worst of theseproblems have yet to reach
(00:42):
Australia, there's no room forcomplacency.
While the worst of theseproblems have yet to reach
Australia, there's no room forcomplacency.
Both introduced honeybees andthe hundreds of native species
could use a little help to keeptheir numbers stable and healthy
.
Unfortunately, as with so manythings, apparently innocent
human activity can haveunintended consequences.
Carefully nurtured gardens maylook wonderful, but they often
(01:08):
offer little support to thelocal bee population.
Many flowers bred for beauty,particularly double-headed
blooms, contain little or nonectar that's easily accessible
for bees.
To make matters worse, manygardens offer only a few
varieties of flower, withblooming compressed into a short
few weeks, rather thanproviding season-long nectar
supplies.
Add to this the commonobsession with tidiness.
(01:31):
That means pathways and otherareas must be free of flowering
weeds, and a large proportion ofmodern gardens don't give bees
much reason to stick around.
From a bee's perspective, anideal garden would be almost
completely wild, with ayear-round supply of flowers and
plenty of untidy nooks andcrannies to nest in.
But of course, not many activegardeners would be happy with
(01:55):
the state of complete chaos.
Having said this, it ispossible to take a middle path.
By growing a selection of plantspecies which attract and feed
all kinds of bees, as well asproviding some areas of suitable
habitat for the many hundredsof solitary native bee species,
you can make a positivedifference.
(02:17):
Bees aren't too fussy when itcomes to their flower
preferences, so as long asthere's a good supply of nectar
from different varieties ofplants and for as long a period
through the year as possible,they'll be happy.
Nonetheless, they seem to havea slight preference for blooms
in the white, blue and purpleparts of the spectrum, and the
more highly perfumed kinds offlowers also seem to be
(02:39):
preferred.
It is more important to providea wide range of flowering
plants rather than focusing onthese particular factors, though
, importantly, the beauty of abloom to human eyes isn't
necessarily a good indicator ofits attractiveness to bees.
Many highly decorativevarieties are either low in
nectar or have their nectariesplaced too deeply within the
(03:02):
elaborate flowers for bees toreach, will have their nectaries
placed too deeply within theelaborate flowers for bees to
reach.
And while nearly anysingle-headed bloom will attract
bees, some are particularlyeffective Things like Selvia.
The Selvia family contains manyspecies with blue and white
flowers which bees do favour.
However, the highly cultivatedand decorative types are
(03:22):
generally less well suited tobees than the more simple
varieties.
There's also candy tuff.
This flowers from mid-spring.
Candy tuff attracts both beesand butterflies to your garden
with their masses of white orpink blooms.
Sunflowers are easy to grow andprovide food for both bees and
birds, as well as addingimpressive height and colour to
(03:45):
your garden.
There's also alyssum.
Alyssum flowers come in a hugerange of colours.
They bloom over a long seasontoo.
In helpful climates, they willoften self-seed to produce
multiple generations for an evenlonger flowering season.
Cosmos are one of the bestflowers for attracting bees.
(04:06):
They can be kept in bloomthroughout summer, with regular
deadheading.
Let's not forget nasturtiums.
Easy to grow thanks to theirself-seeding habit.
Nasturtiums provide masses ofred, yellow and white blooms,
which bees just love, and, as abonus, all parts of the plant
are edible with a deliciouspeppery flavour.
(04:27):
And last but not least, there'scornflower.
Not only are the flowers highin nectar, but the unopened buds
and seed heads providenectaries too.
There's also bee-friendly herbs.
It's not just ornamentalflowers that provide a nectar
feast for bees.
Many medicinal and culinaryherbs feature attractive flowers
(04:49):
too, and some seem to beparticularly prized by the bee
flowers too, and some seem to beparticularly prized by the bee.
There's lemon balm, a vigorousherb that produces masses of
tiny white flowers, which seemto be appreciated far more by
bees than by humans.
The flowers appear from earlysummer right through to autumn.
Lavender is a highly perfumedbloom in a variety of blue
(05:10):
shades.
This makes lavender a positivebee magnet.
Also, the wide range ofcultivars available means that
you have successional floweringfrom early spring to late summer
.
Rosemary is another.
This kitchen superstar may notbloom as spectacularly as its
distant cousin lavender, but itswhite, blue, pink or purple
(05:32):
flowers are highly attractive tobees.
Catnip, this herb producesmauve blooms on contrasting grey
foliage, making it asdecorative as it is bee-friendly
.
Coriander is another Keen herb.
Growers will be only toofamiliar with coriander's
tendency to bolt at the firstsign of trouble.
(05:53):
However, bees will be gratefulfor the plant's delicate white
flowers, whether they arrive byaccident or by design.
As a bonus, the flowers alsoact as an aphid deterrent in a
companion planting scheme.
Another favourite of the bee isbasil.
Of the bee is basil.
This may be best known for itsfragrant leaves, but if left to
(06:14):
grow to maturity, it willproduce white, blue or purple
flowers in late summer and earlyautumn.
Other herbs which encouragebees include queen anne's lace,
borage chives, thyme and membersof the mint family.
You can also work on attractingbees in the veggie patch.
(06:35):
Vegetables can play their partin the bee-friendly garden in
two main ways.
Some produce flowers as part oftheir fruiting cycle, while
others, such as carrots, can beleft to go to seed, producing
flowers later in the season orin their second year.
Things like zucchini, pumpkins,cucumber and other members of
the cucurbit family rely on beesfor pollination.
(06:57):
Both the male and femaleflowers contain plenty of nectar
and bees pass pollen from oneto the other while feeding.
But even self-pollinating cropslike tomatoes and chilies have
a symbiotic benefit with bees.
Native bees can increase fruityields by buzzing pollen around
the blooms with their wings.
This helps pollination in areaswhere the breeze alone might
(07:21):
not be fully effective.
Peas are also self-pollinating,but still attract bees with
their white and pink flowersappearing in spring.
Other legumes, such as runnerbeans, provide flowers
throughout the summer, so longas you continue to pick the
fruit.
Lastly, you can also increasethe bee appeal of your veggie
patch by growing rocket lettuceand other salad greens.
(07:44):
Let some of the plants bolt toseed, and they'll produce
bee-friendly flowers along theway.
So what other ways can you helpthe bees?
Whilst, providing plenty ofnectar-filled flowers is the
best way to attract bees, it'salso helpful to create suitable
habitats for solitary species toset up home in your garden.
(08:04):
Some species live in rottingwood, so leave a few logs laying
around in a quiet corner.
Drilling holes into them willhelp make them even more
desirable as residences.
Other native species borrowinto bare soil, so avoid the
temptation to mulch every squareinch of your garden.
Still, others make their homesin rocky crevices, and so
(08:29):
leaving a few unfilled crackscan encourage new residents too.
And so leaving a few unfilledcracks can encourage new
residents too.
And lastly, the single biggestdeterrent to bees in your garden
is to use insecticides on yourplants.
These poisons can linger inflowers and their nectar for
weeks or months afterapplication, and commercial
overuse is thought to be behindmuch of the devastation caused
(08:49):
to the bee populations aroundthe world.
Without bees, a largeproportion of agriculture would
be in serious trouble.
While the problems facing beesworldwide will only be solved by
concerted action, everyone cando their bit to help by
gardening with these essentiallittle workers in mind.
(09:10):
Next, let's go over somecommonly asked questions on the
topic of bees in the garden.
How can I attract native beespecies to my garden,
specifically considering theyhave different preferences than
honeybees?
To attract native bee species,it's important to diversify your
garden with a wide range ofnative plants that bloom all
(09:33):
throughout the seasons.
Native plants often haveco-evolved with local bee
species, providing suitablenectar sources and habitat.
Additionally, leaving someareas of your garden wild or
untamed will provide nestingsites for solitary bees, things
like leaving bare soil patchesor providing wooden structures
like logs.
(09:56):
Are there any specific gardeningpractices that I should avoid
to protect the bee populations?
There certainly are.
One of the most significant isone we just touched on the use
of insecticides on your plants.
These chemicals are incrediblyharmful to bees.
Another practice to avoid isexcessive mulching, as some
(10:18):
native bee species require baresoil for nesting.
Is excessive mulching, as somenative bee species require bare
soil for nesting?
What if I only have a smallurban garden?
Do I need to have a large spaceto attract bees?
Absolutely not.
You can definitely attract beesto small gardens too.
Even in limited spaces, you canplant a variety of bee-friendly
(10:39):
flowers in pots or small gardenbeds.
Choosing plants that bloom atdifferent times of the year will
ensure a continuous food supplyfor bees and, additionally,
incorporating those herbs andvegetables that we mentioned can
help support the beepopulations in urban settings.
How can I tell if the plantsI'm buying from a nursery are
(11:00):
bee-friendly?
Try to look for plants that arelabelled as pollinator-friendly
or attractive to bees orattracts beneficial insects.
You can also research specificplant species to determine their
attractiveness to bees beforemaking a purchase.
Generally, plants withsingle-headed blooms and those
(11:22):
in shades of white, blue andpurple are more likely to
attract them.
Avoid plants with double-headedblooms or highly cultivated
varieties, as these may offerless nectar or have nectaries
that are difficult for bees toaccess.
How do I tell the differencebetween a bee and a wasp.
How do I tell the differencebetween a bee and a wasp?
(11:43):
Distinguishing between bees andwasps can be done through
several key characteristics.
Firstly, there's the body shape.
Bees typically have a morerobust, hairy little body,
whereas wasps are usually moreslender and have a smoother body
without as much hair.
Bees often appear more fuzzydue to the branched hairs
covering their bodies, whilewasps have a sleeker appearance.
(12:05):
There's also their colouring.
Bees often have a more mutedcolour, such as browns, blacks
and yellows, while wasps mayhave brighter, contrasting
colours like black and yellowstripes.
However, some bees, like theAustralian native blue-banded
bee, can have striking colourstoo.
So colour alone isn't always areliable indicator.
(12:28):
Their diet and behaviour variesa little too.
Bees are primarily pollen andnectar feeders, and they play a
crucial role in pollination.
They are generally notaggressive unless provoked or
defending their hive.
Wasps, on the other hand, aremore varied in their diet and
can be predatory, scavenging onother insects or human food.
(12:49):
There's also their stingingbehaviour.
Both bees and wasps are capableof stinging, but their
behaviour differs.
Bees typically lose theirstinger and die after stinging,
as their stingers are barbed andbecome embedded in the skin.
Wasps, however, can stingrepeatedly, as their stingers
are smooth and do not get stuckinto the skin.
(13:09):
You've been listening to how IGrow, produced by the Seed
Collection in Melbourne,australia.
It's our aim to make gardeningmore accessible to more people,
and this podcast is one of themany ways we're doing that.
If you don't already know whowe are, jump online and visit
wwwtheseedcollectioncomau.
(13:32):
You'll find a treasure trove ofgardening information, as well
as a huge range of seeds andgarden supplies and accessories.
That address, again, iswwwtheseedcollectioncomau.
Thanks for listening.
You're listening to how I Grow with the Seed
Collection, and today I'll betalking about how to make your
garden a haven for bees.
Here you'll learn all about howto attract these beneficial
insects to your garden.
Bees are an essential part ofthe global ecosystem.
Without their help inpollination, around 35% of the
(00:21):
world's food harvest would be inserious trouble, with many
familiar crops dying outaltogether.
Bees are under threat fromindustrial agriculture, disease
and climate change.
In particular, honeybees havesuffered losses of up to a third
of their populations across theworld.
While the worst of theseproblems have yet to reach
(00:42):
Australia, there's no room forcomplacency.
While the worst of theseproblems have yet to reach
Australia, there's no room forcomplacency.
Both introduced honeybees andthe hundreds of native species
could use a little help to keeptheir numbers stable and healthy
.
Unfortunately, as with so manythings, apparently innocent
human activity can haveunintended consequences.
Carefully nurtured gardens maylook wonderful, but they often
(01:08):
offer little support to thelocal bee population.
Many flowers bred for beauty,particularly double-headed
blooms, contain little or nonectar that's easily accessible
for bees.
To make matters worse, manygardens offer only a few
varieties of flower, withblooming compressed into a short
few weeks, rather thanproviding season-long nectar
supplies.
Add to this the commonobsession with tidiness.
(01:31):
That means pathways and otherareas must be free of flowering
weeds, and a large proportion ofmodern gardens don't give bees
much reason to stick around.
From a bee's perspective, anideal garden would be almost
completely wild, with ayear-round supply of flowers and
plenty of untidy nooks andcrannies to nest in.
But of course, not many activegardeners would be happy with
(01:55):
the state of complete chaos.
Having said this, it ispossible to take a middle path.
By growing a selection of plantspecies which attract and feed
all kinds of bees, as well asproviding some areas of suitable
habitat for the many hundredsof solitary native bee species,
you can make a positivedifference.
(02:17):
Bees aren't too fussy when itcomes to their flower
preferences, so as long asthere's a good supply of nectar
from different varieties ofplants and for as long a period
through the year as possible,they'll be happy.
Nonetheless, they seem to havea slight preference for blooms
in the white, blue and purpleparts of the spectrum, and the
more highly perfumed kinds offlowers also seem to be
(02:39):
preferred.
It is more important to providea wide range of flowering
plants rather than focusing onthese particular factors, though
, importantly, the beauty of abloom to human eyes isn't
necessarily a good indicator ofits attractiveness to bees.
Many highly decorativevarieties are either low in
nectar or have their nectariesplaced too deeply within the
(03:02):
elaborate flowers for bees toreach, will have their nectaries
placed too deeply within theelaborate flowers for bees to
reach.
And while nearly anysingle-headed bloom will attract
bees, some are particularlyeffective Things like Selvia.
The Selvia family contains manyspecies with blue and white
flowers which bees do favour.
However, the highly cultivatedand decorative types are
(03:22):
generally less well suited tobees than the more simple
varieties.
There's also candy tuff.
This flowers from mid-spring.
Candy tuff attracts both beesand butterflies to your garden
with their masses of white orpink blooms.
Sunflowers are easy to grow andprovide food for both bees and
birds, as well as addingimpressive height and colour to
(03:45):
your garden.
There's also alyssum.
Alyssum flowers come in a hugerange of colours.
They bloom over a long seasontoo.
In helpful climates, they willoften self-seed to produce
multiple generations for an evenlonger flowering season.
Cosmos are one of the bestflowers for attracting bees.
(04:06):
They can be kept in bloomthroughout summer, with regular
deadheading.
Let's not forget nasturtiums.
Easy to grow thanks to theirself-seeding habit.
Nasturtiums provide masses ofred, yellow and white blooms,
which bees just love, and, as abonus, all parts of the plant
are edible with a deliciouspeppery flavour.
(04:27):
And last but not least, there'scornflower.
Not only are the flowers highin nectar, but the unopened buds
and seed heads providenectaries too.
There's also bee-friendly herbs.
It's not just ornamentalflowers that provide a nectar
feast for bees.
Many medicinal and culinaryherbs feature attractive flowers
(04:49):
too, and some seem to beparticularly prized by the bee
flowers too, and some seem to beparticularly prized by the bee.
There's lemon balm, a vigorousherb that produces masses of
tiny white flowers, which seemto be appreciated far more by
bees than by humans.
The flowers appear from earlysummer right through to autumn.
Lavender is a highly perfumedbloom in a variety of blue
(05:10):
shades.
This makes lavender a positivebee magnet.
Also, the wide range ofcultivars available means that
you have successional floweringfrom early spring to late summer
.
Rosemary is another.
This kitchen superstar may notbloom as spectacularly as its
distant cousin lavender, but itswhite, blue, pink or purple
(05:32):
flowers are highly attractive tobees.
Catnip, this herb producesmauve blooms on contrasting grey
foliage, making it asdecorative as it is bee-friendly
.
Coriander is another Keen herb.
Growers will be only toofamiliar with coriander's
tendency to bolt at the firstsign of trouble.
(05:53):
However, bees will be gratefulfor the plant's delicate white
flowers, whether they arrive byaccident or by design.
As a bonus, the flowers alsoact as an aphid deterrent in a
companion planting scheme.
Another favourite of the bee isbasil.
Of the bee is basil.
This may be best known for itsfragrant leaves, but if left to
(06:14):
grow to maturity, it willproduce white, blue or purple
flowers in late summer and earlyautumn.
Other herbs which encouragebees include queen anne's lace,
borage chives, thyme and membersof the mint family.
You can also work on attractingbees in the veggie patch.
(06:35):
Vegetables can play their partin the bee-friendly garden in
two main ways.
Some produce flowers as part oftheir fruiting cycle, while
others, such as carrots, can beleft to go to seed, producing
flowers later in the season orin their second year.
Things like zucchini, pumpkins,cucumber and other members of
the cucurbit family rely on beesfor pollination.
(06:57):
Both the male and femaleflowers contain plenty of nectar
and bees pass pollen from oneto the other while feeding.
But even self-pollinating cropslike tomatoes and chilies have
a symbiotic benefit with bees.
Native bees can increase fruityields by buzzing pollen around
the blooms with their wings.
This helps pollination in areaswhere the breeze alone might
(07:21):
not be fully effective.
Peas are also self-pollinating,but still attract bees with
their white and pink flowersappearing in spring.
Other legumes, such as runnerbeans, provide flowers
throughout the summer, so longas you continue to pick the
fruit.
Lastly, you can also increasethe bee appeal of your veggie
patch by growing rocket lettuceand other salad greens.
(07:44):
Let some of the plants bolt toseed, and they'll produce
bee-friendly flowers along theway.
So what other ways can you helpthe bees?
Whilst, providing plenty ofnectar-filled flowers is the
best way to attract bees, it'salso helpful to create suitable
habitats for solitary species toset up home in your garden.
(08:04):
Some species live in rottingwood, so leave a few logs laying
around in a quiet corner.
Drilling holes into them willhelp make them even more
desirable as residences.
Other native species borrowinto bare soil, so avoid the
temptation to mulch every squareinch of your garden.
Still, others make their homesin rocky crevices, and so
(08:29):
leaving a few unfilled crackscan encourage new residents too.
And so leaving a few unfilledcracks can encourage new
residents too.
And lastly, the single biggestdeterrent to bees in your garden
is to use insecticides on yourplants.
These poisons can linger inflowers and their nectar for
weeks or months afterapplication, and commercial
overuse is thought to be behindmuch of the devastation caused
(08:49):
to the bee populations aroundthe world.
Without bees, a largeproportion of agriculture would
be in serious trouble.
While the problems facing beesworldwide will only be solved by
concerted action, everyone cando their bit to help by
gardening with these essentiallittle workers in mind.
(09:10):
Next, let's go over somecommonly asked questions on the
topic of bees in the garden.
How can I attract native beespecies to my garden,
specifically considering theyhave different preferences than
honeybees?
To attract native bee species,it's important to diversify your
garden with a wide range ofnative plants that bloom all
(09:33):
throughout the seasons.
Native plants often haveco-evolved with local bee
species, providing suitablenectar sources and habitat.
Additionally, leaving someareas of your garden wild or
untamed will provide nestingsites for solitary bees, things
like leaving bare soil patchesor providing wooden structures
like logs.
(09:56):
Are there any specific gardeningpractices that I should avoid
to protect the bee populations?
There certainly are.
One of the most significant isone we just touched on the use
of insecticides on your plants.
These chemicals are incrediblyharmful to bees.
Another practice to avoid isexcessive mulching, as some
(10:18):
native bee species require baresoil for nesting.
Is excessive mulching, as somenative bee species require bare
soil for nesting?
What if I only have a smallurban garden?
Do I need to have a large spaceto attract bees?
Absolutely not.
You can definitely attract beesto small gardens too.
Even in limited spaces, you canplant a variety of bee-friendly
(10:39):
flowers in pots or small gardenbeds.
Choosing plants that bloom atdifferent times of the year will
ensure a continuous food supplyfor bees and, additionally,
incorporating those herbs andvegetables that we mentioned can
help support the beepopulations in urban settings.
How can I tell if the plantsI'm buying from a nursery are
(11:00):
bee-friendly?
Try to look for plants that arelabelled as pollinator-friendly
or attractive to bees orattracts beneficial insects.
You can also research specificplant species to determine their
attractiveness to bees beforemaking a purchase.
Generally, plants withsingle-headed blooms and those
(11:22):
in shades of white, blue andpurple are more likely to
attract them.
Avoid plants with double-headedblooms or highly cultivated
varieties, as these may offerless nectar or have nectaries
that are difficult for bees toaccess.
How do I tell the differencebetween a bee and a wasp.
How do I tell the differencebetween a bee and a wasp?
(11:43):
Distinguishing between bees andwasps can be done through
several key characteristics.
Firstly, there's the body shape.
Bees typically have a morerobust, hairy little body,
whereas wasps are usually moreslender and have a smoother body
without as much hair.
Bees often appear more fuzzydue to the branched hairs
covering their bodies, whilewasps have a sleeker appearance.
(12:05):
There's also their colouring.
Bees often have a more mutedcolour, such as browns, blacks
and yellows, while wasps mayhave brighter, contrasting
colours like black and yellowstripes.
However, some bees, like theAustralian native blue-banded
bee, can have striking colourstoo.
So colour alone isn't always areliable indicator.
(12:28):
Their diet and behaviour variesa little too.
Bees are primarily pollen andnectar feeders, and they play a
crucial role in pollination.
They are generally notaggressive unless provoked or
defending their hive.
Wasps, on the other hand, aremore varied in their diet and
can be predatory, scavenging onother insects or human food.
(12:49):
There's also their stingingbehaviour.
Both bees and wasps are capableof stinging, but their
behaviour differs.
Bees typically lose theirstinger and die after stinging,
as their stingers are barbed andbecome embedded in the skin.
Wasps, however, can stingrepeatedly, as their stingers
are smooth and do not get stuckinto the skin.
(13:09):
You've been listening to how IGrow, produced by the Seed
Collection in Melbourne,australia.
It's our aim to make gardeningmore accessible to more people,
and this podcast is one of themany ways we're doing that.
If you don't already know whowe are, jump online and visit
wwwtheseedcollectioncomau.
(13:32):
You'll find a treasure trove ofgardening information, as well
as a huge range of seeds andgarden supplies and accessories.
That address, again, iswwwtheseedcollectioncomau.
Thanks for listening.
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