Gardens may still be waking up in early spring, but hungry bees are already active and searching for food.
In the countryside, early blossom from trees and hedgerows can provide food. In many gardens, however, very little is flowering yet, leaving pollinators short of nectar at a critical moment.
Morris Hankinson, Managing Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries, says: “Bee activity often doesn’t match what’s flowering in our gardens, and many people simply aren’t aware of the simple tasks that can protect them. If nectar isn’t available in March and early April, colonies can be weakened before the season has properly begun.”
The good news? Helping bees doesn’t require a garden overhaul. These six 10-minute gardening jobs, done before you’ve finished your morning tea, can make a real difference.
Helaine Weide//Getty Images
Move pots into sun traps
Shift existing containers to south-facing walls, sheltered patios or sunny corners. Warmth encourages earlier flowering and warm flowers make nectar far more accessible to bees on cool spring days.
Cluster your flowering pots together
Rather than spacing containers out, group them tightly. Bees are drawn to larger, more visible masses of colour and clustered pots can look rather lovely too.
Hold off on cutting back
Those old stems you’ve been meaning to tidy? Leave them a little longer. Hollow stems are prime overwintering spots for solitary bees, and cutting back too early can disturb them just as they’re waking up. Mid-spring is soon enough.
Albert Fertl//Getty Images
Skip the first mow
Dandelions are one of the most important early nectar sources for bees. When little else is flowering, their blooms are packed with pollen. Hold off mowing until late spring and let them feed pollinators first.
Set out a shallow water source
A saucer, a few pebbles, and clean water are all it takes. As colonies expand through spring, bees need reliable hydration. It takes minutes to set up and can be a real lifeline on dry days.
Pick up one pot of early bloomers
Next time you’re passing a garden centre, grab a single pot of early-flowering plants. Pulmonaria, hellebores or crocus are all excellent choices. Place it by your door or anywhere that catches the sun. Even one pot can make a meaningful difference.
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