GARDEN DESIGN
TREES FOR BEES
From the first warm day in spring to the last sunny day in autumn , bees fly around looking for nectar and pollen to collect . As well as flowers on herbs and plants , blossoming trees play an important role in providing a food supply for bees .
In the search for food , willows are a favourite during the early spring and after this fruit trees . After the fruit trees have blossomed , there is not much more to be found until summer . In order to give the bees a helping hand you can plant trees that blossom and produce nectar or pollen at different times throughout the growing season .
Blossoming lime trees are perhaps the most valuable pollen plants for bees .
By planting a wide range of species , the blossoming period can be spread out from June to September . The large-leaved lime ( Tilia platyphyllos ) is one of the first limes to blossom in June . Followed by the common lime ( Tilia xeuropaea ). This species blossoms for longer than the others , around twenty days up to the end of June or beginning of July .
The next to blossom are the American linden ( Tilia americana ) and Henry ’ s lime ( Tilia henryana ), late in the summer – in July and August-September respectively .
Unusual trees for bees
The bee-bee tree ( Tetradium daniellii ) is a great example of an important food providing tree . The pagoda tree ( Styphnolobium japonicum ) is another one . In the Ebben Nursery ‘ Trees for Bees ’ calendar , you can find more good pollen trees and shrubs , listed by blossoming month , as a guideline to create a planting plan for bees .
Scan the code to download the calendar .
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