How to Attract Bees to Your Garden: Easy Tips for a Buzzing Backyard

Seeing bees in my garden always makes me happy. These little winged creatures are beneficial pollinators and are key to creating and maintaining a healthy and beautiful garden. Without them, many plants would not be able to reproduce and provide fruits and vegetables. See how to attract bees to your garden by providing food, shelter, and a proper environment to help them thrive.

 

1. Plant a Variety of Flowers

Attract bees with a wide range of bee-friendly flowers in your garden. Think of your garden as a smorgasbord for bees. Some popular choices include lavender, sunflowers, daisies, cosmos, and clover.

 

2. Create a Water Source

Bees need water to survive, so providing a small water source such as a shallow dish filled with pebbles and water will attract them to your garden. If you’ve already got a bird bath in your garden, you’re all set! In my case, we have a koi pond in the yard. I’ve planted bee-friendly flowers around the pond.

 

3. Plant Herbs

Herbs such as thyme, mint, and oregano are great for attracting bees to your garden. I have a fairly big patch of oregano in my garden and when it flowers, the bees love it. Oregano is a perennial here in Illinois so it comes back every year. The only maintenance it needs is a bit of pruning when it outgrows its space.

 

4. Plant in the Sun

Bees are attracted to sunny areas, so make sure to plant your flowers and herbs in a spot that gets plenty of sunlight.

 

5. Add a Bee Hotel

Provide a safe nesting site for bees and other beneficial insects with a bee hotel. I promised myself that I’d add one of these to my garden this year. They’re not expensive and you can find a variety of them on Amazon.

 

6. Plant Flower Species in Masses

Make it easier for bees to find your flowers by planting them in large groupings. Choose flowers that like to grow in clumps, such as ornamental onions and Shasta daisies.

 

7. Educate Yourself About Bees

The more you know about how to attract bees, the better equipped you’ll be to create a garden that draws and supports them. Invest in a book about bees to help you learn more about these amazing winged creatures.

The Bee Book | The Bees in Your Backyard | Bees Make the Best Pets

The Beekeeper’s Bible | Bumble Bees of North America | Beekeeping for Beginners

 

By following these easy and handy tips, you can create a bee-friendly garden that attracts a variety of bee species. Most importantly, be patient. You might only see a few bees your first year of trying to attract them. I’ve noticed more bees each year since I first started trying to lure them to my garden spaces.