02 Sep Pollinators Need Help All Year Round
When we think about helping bees and butterflies, many of us head to the garden centre in early summer and fill our gardens with colourful flowers.
While that’s a great start, pollinators don’t just need food during the summer months. From the first warm days of spring to the final flowers of autumn, they rely on a continuous supply of nectar and pollen to survive.
By choosing plants that flower at different times of the year, you can turn your garden into a year-round restaurant for pollinators.
Why Continuous Flowering Matters
Bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other pollinating insects are active over many months of the year. Different species emerge at different times, so if your garden only flowers for a few weeks in summer, there may be long periods when there’s very little food available.
A garden that provides nectar from early spring through to late autumn gives pollinators the best chance to thrive. The good news? It doesn’t take a huge garden to achieve it.
🌸 Early Spring (February–April)
After winter, early-emerging bees are desperately searching for food. Some of the best early nectar sources include:
- Snowdrops
- Crocuses
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
- Primroses
- Grape hyacinths
- Fruit blossom
These early flowers provide the energy insects need to begin nesting and raising the next generation.
🌼 Late Spring & Summer (May–August)
This is when most gardens are at their colourful best, and there are plenty of pollinator-friendly choices. Try planting:
- Lavender
- Salvia
- Foxgloves
- Cosmos
- Verbena bonariensis
- Catmint (Nepeta)
- Herbs such as thyme, oregano and chives (leave them to flower)
- Buddleia
Aim for groups of the same plant rather than single specimens. Larger drifts of flowers are easier for pollinators to spot and provide a richer source of nectar.
🍂 Late Summer & Autumn (September–October)
As summer flowers begin to fade, pollinators still need food before winter arrives. Late-flowering favourites include:
- Sedums
- Michaelmas daisies (Asters)
- Ivy flowers
- Japanese anemones
- Rudbeckia
- Verbena
- Dahlias (single-flowered varieties)
One of the most overlooked autumn plants is ivy. When allowed to flower, it becomes one of the most valuable late-season nectar sources for bees, hoverflies and wasps.
Variety Is the Secret
A wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t need hundreds of different plants. Instead, think about creating a sequence of flowering throughout the year. As one plant finishes blooming, another begins. Even a few containers on a patio or balcony can provide this continuous supply of nectar if you choose your plants carefully.
Every Flower Counts
You don’t need to redesign your entire garden overnight. Adding one or two new plants each season gradually builds a richer habitat for wildlife while creating a colourful garden you’ll enjoy too. And remember, flowering herbs, window boxes, hanging baskets and pollinator-friendly pots all count.
Your Garden Could Already Qualify
Many of the plants that support pollinators are recognised within the Wildlife Garden Awards, alongside other features such as bird feeders, ponds, compost bins and wildlife-friendly gardening practices.
The Wildlife Garden Awards are free to enter, and the deadline has been extended until 30 September, giving you plenty of time to celebrate the wildlife-friendly features you already have—or perhaps add a few more before entering.
By planting for every season, you’re not just creating a beautiful garden. You’re providing a lifeline for the pollinators that help keep our natural world flourishing. Enter today – click here