Lawns For Bees
Lawns can provide excellent opportunities for bees. Depending on your circumstances, this could range from allowing a few wildflowers to thrive in a small patch, or converting a large grassed area to meadow. On the other hand, maybe the idea of long grasses or tall flowers is not appealing. Perhaps you'd like to select a few low-growing specimens to help the bees, or maybe you'd rather not include wildflowers in your lawn at all. Here are a few ideas to set you on your way in creating a patch that is great for bees and other wildlife: Read more about
flower bulbs for bees,
and get further information about bulbs suitable for lawns and shade. Even small spaces can accommodate many
wildflowers
, and this could attract different types of bees and butterflies, by providing much needed pollen and nectar.
So how can it be achieved? There are several methods: The ‘Leave it and See’ Approach My husband and I tried this last year, and it worked a treat. We learned that our house had been built on a wildflower meadow about 16 years ago, and I had already noticed a few different wildflowers had popped up from the lawn. These were probably dormant seeds from years gone by. To achieve this approach is simple:
- Mow only twice in the year – we mowed early in the spring, then again late autumn. If you wish you can always mow a ‘path’ through the lawn. Mown paths can look quite attractive. Depending on your lawn, getting a good variety of wildflowers may take time. However, do not be disappointed if you see lots of clover. Clover is one of the best plants for bees, and has the added advantage of keeping your lawn looking green even during dry spells. Other wonderful plants to see peeping through your lawn include self heal, bird’s foot trefoil, cowslips and vetches. Dandelions are controversial, but bees and other pollinators love them. You can always remove the heads before seeds disperse. You could also purchase a few wildflowers as plants, and add them at various places to your lawn. Even better, sow seeds yourself in pots, and ensure you use no chemicals. This approach will be helpful : Create a Wildflower Meadow from Scratch For this approach, remove the top layer of turf. Sow a wildflower seed mix in Spring or Autumn, and cover with a fine tilth. Hopefully, your seed mix will contain annuals that will soon give you glorious colour. In a year or two, the perennial flowers should show up. Why? There is great debate and controversy around the impact of herbicides on wildlife, with the agrochems industry defending their position (as with neonicotinoid pesticides), and government institutions doing little about it – and certainly not demanding independent evidence prior to marketing authorization has been granted. But at the very least, remember wildflowers are ‘weeds’ in the eyes of the agrochemical industry. Instead, sow Yellow Rattle with your wildflower seeds – or sow it first. This will parasitize the grasses that would otherwise take over your wildflowers, and bees and other insects love this wildflower. Yellow Rattle is excellent for helping to create more suitable growing conditions for wildflowers preferring nutrient-poor soils. Along with the Yellow Rattle, you could try these wildflowers (they will benefit not only bees, but also other pollinating insects), as they are better able to compete with rough grass: Field Scabious Which Other Wildflowers Could You Include? Dappled Shade: Primrose Damp Soils Chalk Soil Rich Soil Don’t Want Wildflowers or Are You in a Drought Area? If you have very dry soil or if you would prefer a more cultivated look – or even something a little unusual, then why not consider fragrant Thyme? Thyme is an excellent herb for bees, and low growing varieties can be used. Check out this link about growing a
thyme lawn.
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