How to Make Garden Rooms Buzz.

There have been a stream of scare stories over concern about bee numbers, among other pollinators, and the effects of a decline on our harvests.  In an effort to encourage garden rooms to resonate with buzzing, the RHS have today published a list of plants that butterflies and bees cannot resist.  Encouragement to be more environmentally friendly could appeal to the lazy gardener who lets the dandelions seed and the nettles bloom!

Thinking about our gardens, we all have species of plant, which thrive locally, and bees continually visit.  With the intensive farming of crops and animals, our wild meadow flowers have largely been eradicated from farmer’s fields and wasteland sites eaten up by built developments.  The thinking behind the RHS’ advice is to provide enough pollen for bees and butterflies to thrive and develop healthy colonies, year after year, from consciously planting our own garden rooms and window boxes.

Over the last 50 years there has been a decline in many groups of insects, including some of the common butterflies, moths, hoverflies and bees. Gardens with their sheer variety of flowers are an important habitat where insects can find sources of nectar and pollen.

With their excellent guide, split into the four planting seasons, it is an easy decision to choose an appropriate tree, shrub, climber, bulb, annual, biennial or perennial which appeals to pollinators.  Ideal May planters are Hebes and Geraniums, Buddlia, Roses, Verbena and Vibernum.

When planting herbs, sage, thyme and calendula are adored by butterflies and all kinds of bee.  For variety, try the vibrant californian poppy, the native foxglove, echinacea, tansy, even allow the dreaded dandelion and the native nettle a corner to thrive! Avoid plants with double or multi-petal flowers and aim to have plants in flower from early spring to late autumn.
Think about using British wild flowers as additions to planting schemes
 and observe the plants in your garden and plant more of those that attract insects.

The perfect for pollinators campaign launches today and is prepared for year round planting, with their freshly stocked seasonal planting list.  Owners of garden rooms tend to spend more time in their gardens – make your buzz by taking stock and adding a few bee favourites.