It’s a chilly 30 degrees here in Manhattan as we write this post. Believe it or not, though, spring is just around the corner. It won’t be long until we’re outside tending to our gardens and enjoying the best of Mother Nature.
Of course, spring is the ideal time of year to add some beauty to your favorite outdoor living space. In this post, we will discuss how you can create a bee-friendly garden in New York City. It doesn’t matter if you have a large backyard garden or a small patio, either.
Here are five tips for creating a bee-friendly garden:
Make use of the space you have available
This holds true for any garden, but especially a bee-friendly one. If you’re fortunate enough to have a fairly large outdoor space, fill it with lots of flowers. Just remember to leave room for you and other visitors to walk and sit.
As you begin this process, design wide paths or walkways. Trust us when we say it’s easy to get caught up planting a bunch of flowers and wind up with a narrow path. Obviously, the purpose of creating a bee-friendly garden is to watch bees and butterflies do their thing. That said, always be mindful of a honey bee’s personal space.
Add a water feature or two
There’s no question that bees appreciate gardens with a water feature. Maybe you’re wondering, “Do I really need to get some elaborate thing just so the bees have a water source?” Frankly, a birdbath with pebbles around the edge to create a shallow drinking spot will suffice.
Those with a larger outdoor space to work with may want to consider a small water garden. Again, it all depends on the location. But don’t think that a water feature is absolutely required for a bee-friendly garden.
Protect the bees from potentially harmful chemicals
You can go above and beyond to create a bee-friendly garden, from picking the perfect flowers to adding an incredible water feature. Unfortunately, none of it matters if the bees are exposed to herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals in the area.
Should you still feel the need to use these products, try to purchase the most harmless types. Read the products’ labels, follow directions, and use them sparingly. Consider asking a landscape designer if they have recommendations for non-chemical methods to control undesirable insects.
Opt for plants that bloom again and again
Wondering what plants will thrive in your bee-friendly garden? Here at Amber Freda Landscape Design, we tell clients to use a combination of plants placed directly in the soil and add potted annuals over time. Not only does a variety of plants look better, but it provides a continuous supply of pollen and nectar for bees.
So as you start brainstorming plants for the spring, give annuals some serious thought. Just know that many annuals are done by late summer.
Choose the best plants
Now that you know annuals and perennials tend to do best in bee-friendly gardens, decide which ones are ideal for your area. In New York City, you can’t go wrong with echinacea, cosmos, asters, sunflowers, cornflowers, borage, thyme, and zinnias. If you’d like to branch out from this group, know that the plants you end up choosing should grow well within our region’s temperature and rainfall range.
Let Our Landscape Designer Create Your Dream Garden
At Amber Freda Landscape Design, our team believes in creating beautiful, bee-friendly gardens. As opposed to traditional landscapers, we never operate under a “one-size-fits-all” or “cookie-cutter” approach. Amber will listen to what you have in mind, assess your location, and then go to work with the design.
When it comes to creating bee-friendly gardens, we never use harmful pesticides and fertilizers. By using only organic products, we hope to contribute to a healthier, more sustainable planet for bees and society as a whole.
Don’t just settle for an average landscape design service this spring as you begin your garden preparations. With Amber Freda, we will double-check that every project detail meets our high standards. Our ultimate goal is to create a space you will appreciate and use for years to come.
Contact Amber Freda Landscape Design today.
