UK Gardeners Told To Plant These Now For Happy Bees In Spring

2 days ago 9

Bee on hyacinth

Sure, the leaves are brown, and your backyard harvest is at its most bountiful.

That doesn’t seem like the best time to get digging, granted.

But according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), September is a great month to get certain spring-flowering bulbs in the ground.

Alex Biggart, a flower expert at 123 Flowers, agreed, sharing: “Autumn is the best time to get your garden ready for spring”.

Not only will doing so “set your garden up for a strong, healthy start next year,” he said, but it could help struggling pollinators like bees too.

What should I plant in September?

Daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and alliums can all go in the ground this month for an early bloom.

“Sowing seed while the soil is still warm helps roots establish quickly, outcompete weeds and recover from summer heat stress,” Biggart shared.

And it’ll support pollinators – “the unsung heroes of your garden” – early on too.

Gardening expert at Green Feathers, James Ewens, agreed.

“By staggering your varieties, you can expect months of colour, with crocuses showing their faces in February, and late tulips in May,” he said – a welcome respite from the winter bleakness.

“Your pollinators need all the support they can get, and they’ll thank you for your efforts,” he added.

“Early spring blooms provide some of the first vital nectar sources for bees emerging from winter hibernation.”

How can I help pollinators in autumn?

Pollinators can struggle to get enough food either side of the winter, as natural supplies dwindle.

So, Biggart says, you should consider “Leaving seed heads on echinacea, sedum or grasses,” which provides shelter for animals and birds as well as a food source.

Bees, birds, and bugs “Help fertilise flowers, fruits and vegetables for the next season – so giving them a helping hand is a must,” he added.

“For plants like echinacea, make sure you deadhead them in late summer to encourage a final flush of flowers, then leave the remaining seed heads for autumn wildlife.”