How to Attract Bees to Your Vegetable Garden with Flowers
Bees can be an invaluable part of your vegetable garden. Not only do these small, hard-working insects help pollinate, but they also help to reduce your garden’s pest population. So if you’d like to attract more bees to your vegetable plot, consider planting some suitable flowers.
What Kind of Flowers Attract Bees?
There are many types of flowers that are attractive to bees, and the following list contains some good choices:
- Marigolds: These bright flowers have a delicate scent, which is irresistible to bees. Not only that, but they are also known to express health benefits when planted near vegetables.
- Phacelia: A relatively short-lived flower, phacelia provides a nectar feast to bees and other pollinators.
- Poppies: Poppies are a colorful flower with a sweet scent. They are attractive to a variety of pollinators, including bees.
- Bee Balm: Scientifically known as Monarda, bee balm has a bold, fragrant aroma and its showy red or pink flowers are attractive to all types of pollinators.
- Lavender: A beautiful, fragrant flower, lavender produces a strong scent that is irresistible to bees and other pollinators.
Be sure to choose flowers that will bloom at different times of the year to ensure that your garden remains attractive to bees all year round.
Tips for Attracting Bees to your Vegetable Garden
- Plant flowers close together – Bees are more likely to be attracted if there are more flowers in the vicinity.
- Leave some dandelions – A weed to some, a flower to others, dandelions are especially attractive to bees and can provide a vital food source.
- Provide a shallow bowl of water – Bees require a source of water, such as a shallow bowl with pebbles in it, to keep them hydrated.
- Avoid using pesticides – The toxins in chemical pesticides can be damaging to bees and other beneficial insects.
By planting flowers that attract bees, you can ensure that your garden will benefit from the pollen-providing services of these important workers. So, add some of these flower varieties to your vegetable garden to keep the bees buzzing!
