Le Mie Ricompense
Bees are vital!
Our fuzzy little friends pollinate 90% of the crops that we eat, as well as the plants that other animals in the food chain eat. Worryingly, they are in swift decline due to loss of habitat and the use of pesticides. So why not 'bee friendly'?!
It's very possible to do your bit to attract and help bees, so we thought we'd show you how to bring together a few plants to make a bee friendly planter! It will also look really pretty in whatever outside space you perch it in.
You will need:
- A planter (with drainage holes)
- Multi-purpose compost
- Horticultural potting grit
- Bee-friendly plants (we used Aquilegia Cameo Mix, Campanula 'Plena', Campanula Portenschlagiana, Campanula Carpatica f.Alba, Campanula collina, Campanula fenestrellata and Lobelia trailing light blue - you could choose yours from the RHS's recommended 'pollinators')
You can be as creative as you like when choosing your planter. We used an old ammunition box we found at a local market. Whatever you use, it mustn't be able to become water logged so make sure you can drill lots of holes in the bottom (if they aren't there already!)
Then you need to spread a layer of horticultural potting grit at the bottom of the planter.
Fill up your planter with a mixture of multi purpose compost and the potting grit.
Plant your bee friendly plants a couple of inches deep and allow them growing room between each one. Remember to water them regularly and pop them in a sunny spot!
Now all you need to do is sit back and enjoy your beautiful planter and the happy buzzing of little bees!
Keep an eye out for future Weekend Projects from BloomBox Club and remember - you get everything you need to create a beautiful, bee friendly planter with our small outdoor boxes. We even provide the soil and a hessian sack to put everything in. What are you waiting for?
