Create a bee-friendly garden

Make it colourful and fragrant

• Bees are drawn to blue and white colours, so aim for a variety.

• Choose flowers with scents, as they signal the presence of attractive nectar.

• Mix flower heads; daisies are simple, while snapdragons are more complex.

• Native bees rely on specific plants like banksia, callistemon, and melaleuca for abundant pollen and nectar.

Big gardens

If you have a larger garden, consider planting native trees and shrubs such as banksia, tea tree and grevillea.

Small gardens

Having a small garden doesn’t mean it can’t be bee friendly. Opt for coriander, basil, forget-me-nots, poppies, and cornflowers.

Coriander and basil can provide huge amounts of food for bees if you let them flower. Basil grows so big you can let half the plant flower and use the other half for your pasta. Forget-me-nots, poppies, cornflowers all work.

Avoid harmful chemicals

Bees are sensitive to pesticides and herbicides:

• Avoid chemical pesticides; they can harm bees and disrupt their foraging.

• Explore low or no toxicity alternatives for a garden that thrives naturally.

• Embrace natural pest control methods and introduce beneficial insects like ladybirds and lacewings.

Create bee-friendly spaces

• Designate areas where bees can rest, nest, and seek shelter.

• Leave some areas with bare soil for ground-nesting bees.

• Include patches of long grass or wood piles for solitary bees.

Hydration stations

Just like us, bees need water, especially during hot periods. Bees are not strong swimmers, so set up shallow dishes or birdbaths with stones for landing spots and keep the water clean and replenished regularly for a welcoming oasis.

Go a bit wild!

Bees appreciate a slightly wilder garden. Consider leaving some areas with longer grass or wildflowers undisturbed. This provides additional foraging opportunities and nesting spaces for ground-nesting bees.

Keep it natural

Stick to natural lawns – they are the bee's knees! And limit the use of chemical fertilisers on your lawn as these can be harmful.

Wind shelter

Build a gentle barrier against the wind on your property boundaries. This protects older bees and blocks spray drift from neighbours and council workers.

Plants that Australian bees love, include:

Herbs

• Basil

• Chives

• Coriander

• Fennel

• Lavender

• Marjoram

• Mint

• Oregano

• Parsley

• Rosemary

• Sage

• Thyme

Fruit

• Apples

• Blueberries

• Lemons & limes

• Mandarins

• Mangoes

• Passionfruit

• Strawberries

Vegetables

• Capsicum

• Chillies

• Cucumbers

• Leeks

• Onions (if left to flower)

• Pumpkins

Flowers

• Alyssum

• Cosmos

• Geranium

• Marigold

• Portulaca

• Nasturtium

• Roses

• Sunflowers

• Dahlia

• Zinnia

• Gazania

Australian natives

• Acacia

• Banksia

• Dianella

• Eucalypts

• Grevilleas

• Melaleuca

• Xanthorrhoea

Remember, creating a bee-friendly garden doesn't require a massive green thumb or vast gardening knowledge. It's about making simple, thoughtful choices that accommodate our essential pollinators. You can soon be on your way to creating a garden that not only looks beautiful, but also supports a healthy and happy bee population. Your garden and the bees will thank you!