10 easy things you can do to help the bees survive.
As a gardener, I always feel bad when I read another article about the dire state our bees are in.
I know I can do more, I even considered having a hive or two in my back yard – but that is a HUGE commitment! And investment.
And I have said before – I am a half-assed gardener. Lots of knowledge and practical skills – just not as committed as others.
So to take on a beehive and be responsible for all those tiny lives? Not gonna happen. And I’m allergic to bees!
So what could I do?
Simple things that would make a difference and I could talk others into doing to make my impact bigger. So I did some research and have listed 10 easy things anyone can do – and talk their friends into doing!
1. Use more bee-friendly plants in your garden.
Below are 5 perennials and 5 annuals you can use. Bonus! The perennials are deer-resistant!
Perennials
Bee Balm – this is a great plant for the bees and hummingbirds. Bee Balm has a great fragrance and is an easy plant to grow. It does spread somewhat so if you like your gardens neat – you will have to do some maintenance on it, Comes in wonderful, dark shades of rose, red and lavender. Needs full sun.
Lavender – wonderful plant to have in the garden for the fragrance and greyish foliage – and of course the flowers. Bees love them. And you can dry the flowers and enjoy the fragrance inside. Lots of crafty things you can do with the flowers! Not one of the easiest plants, but worth the little bit of TLC.
Echinacea -a  very hardy and easy plant to grow. Another bonus with this plant – keep the seed heads over winter to help feed the birds.  Due to the amount of hybridizing of this plant, many colors available. Full sun!
Borage – is an herb not grown much. It has a wonderful bright blue flower and grayish foliage. Full sun.
Cottage yarrow – most people thing of a dark yellow, stiff flower with a strong fragrance when they think of yarrow. But cottage yarrow is a softer, smaller version of Yarrow. And has some fun colors! Peachy yellow, rosy pink, easy to grow! Full Sun.
Annuals
Bachelor Buttons – I have never seen these for sale as a plant, only as seeds. They make a great flower to plant in a meadow as they tend to self-seed. Blues, pinks and white flowers.
Pentas – have a wonderful flower and also will bring in some Hummingbirds to your garden. I seem to always over or under water them, but their colors are worth trying.
Zinnias – one of my favorite annuals. The colors! Whites, yellows, pinks, oranges even green! Some varieties look like peppermint sticks and some that look fuzzy! Easily grown from seeds and a great cut flower. Full sun.
Nicotiana – another plant with a divine fragrance, plant this where you can enjoy the fragrance on a summer night. Tall, with white tubular flowers.
Lantana – this is one I get every year. Easy to grow, bright cheerful colors. You will get bees and butterflies galore! In some climates – this will overwinter and grow into a small shrub.
2. Make sure your plants haven’t been pre-treated with neonicotinoids pesticides.
Unfortunately, most big box plants have been treated. So, read the labels. Buy from your local farmers market or check out seeds and catalogs from online sources.
3. Buy your honey locally.
In my part of the country, several gift shops, wineries and food shops sell local honey. Check these out in your area.
4. Don’t mow your grass right away in spring.
Some of the earliest food for the bees includes clover blossoms and dandelions. I’m not a big fan of lawns due to the overuse of chemicals, so it doesn’t bother me much if I have these blooming in my yard – I also don’t have an HOA watching my yard! So this might not work for some of you.
5. Do you grow veggies?
Let some of them bolt or go to seed. This helps bees to stock up on food before winter sets in. Bees don’t die out each year, they just slow down and wait for spring. Allowing your veggies to bolt helps them snap back sooner once the weather starts warming up.
Show Your Love for the Bees with these fun t-shirts!
6. Provide water for the bees.
This can be as simple as placing a shallow pan of water in your flower bed, with a few stones for the bees to land on.
7. Provide shelter.
Unlike honey bees, most other bees don’t live in hives. You can help by placing a shelter like this in your garden
8. Talk to your local council
Share ways they can help. Here is a great blog post on speaking points.
9. Do some research and educate yourself and your friends!
Check out these blogs; https://www.buzzaboutbees.net, https://www.planetbee.org,
10. Send a small (or large!) donation to one of the groups listed below
So there you have it! 10 easy steps to help your bees! Please share these easy steps with your friends and family. We all need to help as much as we can.
Remember – if the bees go – they are taking us with them!
Have some other easy steps we can take? Please share in the comments!
Happy Gardening.
