It’s time to give a little bit back
Now that spring is here, I can’t wait to get into my garden and start working on the list of chores that I do every April.
This year however, I am going to make a few changes in my ‘to do’ list and all of them have to do with bringing back the bees to my outdoor spaces.
According to the Canadian Association of Professional Agriculturalists, bee-colony health continues to deteriorate.
Bees everywhere have been dying by the millions — and this is a serious thing on a global scale because our survival depends on having plentiful and healthy bees.
One in every three bites of food we eat is as a result of bees and other open pollinators.
So what can we do differently in our yards? Here are a few options to consider:
Leave the leaves
Wait on cleaning out the fallen leaves and debris around your plants this spring. We now know that several species on beneficial pollinators like flies and some varieties of beetles overwinter in the leaf litter around our plants.
When we disturb these piles too soon, we expose these insects to predators and the elements before they are ready. Instead, wait to clean out a majority of the garden debris until after the nighttime temperatures are above six degrees consistently. This will ensure that all your winter guests have moved on.
More yellow please
This next one is going to be a tough one for some of the diehard lawn people out there.
We need to keep some of the dandelions in our yard. (I’m pretty sure I just heard a collective gasp). Dandelions are a major food source for pollinators because they are one of the first flowers that appear in the spring.
By leaving them, we are providing a food source for the insects that are running low on nutrients.
The key is to catch the dandelions after they have been pollinated and before they turn to seed. Plant more flowers and herbs Bees need plants and as homeowners, we have been reducing the amounts of plants in our yards in favour of low-maintenance landscaping options like patios, decks and even artificial turf.
This year, why not put in some great annuals like sunflowers? General Mills is even giving away seeds as part of its Bring Back the Bees campaign. You can even get free content and information for kids along with your seeds at Bringbackthebees.ca.
If we all start doing our part to help local pollinator populations, we can make a difference to an insect group that helps ensure our own longevity.
It’s time to give a little bit back and this spring you can do just that.
Carson Arthur is an international landscape designer and media personality with a focus on environmentally friendly design and low maintenance outdoor rooms.