GROW!

How to create a Pollinator Friendly Garden with our planting guides

 

CLICK HERE for the ACT for Bees Planting List for the ACT & Region

 

The Urban Planting Calendar for the ACT

The Urban Planting Calendar for the ACT has been produced by ACT for Bees and the ACT Government to implement strategic planting to support bees and other beneficial insects and birds with a diverse range of foraging opportunities across the city and wider landscape. Download it for free from the ACT Government‘s website Urban Planting Calendar 

For more information and resources on ‘Planting for Pollinators in Urban Design, go to this page . Experts in this presented at a conference at Ginninderry development in West Belconnen.

 

ACT Government Climate Wise Garden Designs with ‘Nature in Mind’-Click Here

Great ideas to create healthy gardens with space for growing food, pollinator plants and enjoyable outdoor spaces

Pest management and Pollinators

  • Ask before you buy plants what chemical treatments have been used on seedlings as many pesticides are toxic to bees and pollinators. Share with your local nursery information about the dangers to bees of these pesticides and support smaller nurseries which have a better connection with their suppliers.
  • Here is a list of Australian Neonicotinoids brand names .  
  • Many Neonicotinoid pesticides have been banned since 2014 in the European Union due to their effect on bees. More information on ACT for Bees Bees and Pesticides page
  • Try garlic spray for aphids instead of pesticides. Learn about companion planting  where particular plants grown together flourish and are stronger.
  • Natural Pest & Weed Control  shows how to encourage pest predators in your garden.
  • Integrated Pest Management is a great guide by Canberra Organic Growers Group about how to manage pests & diseases using a range of strategies.

 

The following are great resources produced by bee and pollinator groups in other regions

  • Powerful Pollinators- Encouraging insect pollinators in farm landscapes. NSW central slopes, Murray-Riverina and North East Victoria. Excellent guide for rural communities produced by Wheen Bee Foundation and Sustainable Farms.
  • Planting & Creating Habitat To Attract Bees Great resource from Valley Bees community in Nth NSW with lots of ideas for bee hotels as well as the plants that flower in different seasons.
  • PlantingSeeds has created a habitat regeneration program, to support biodiversity and encourage sustainability within our ecosystem. It also has school programs
  • Pollinator Link: Bringing Back the Butterflies, Bees and Birds  has great resources for Brisbane region and invites the community to join in creating pollinator corridors in the region.
  • The Heart Gardening Project is creating the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor(MPC)…an 8km community-driven wildlife corridor (focussing on native bees and other pollinating insects) that will link 2 large green patches that run along the Birrarung, Westgate Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens
  • Bees in the Burbs Facebook page has an excellent booklet by Kit Prendergast on building Native Bee Hotels. BEWARE of shop bought insect hotels as they are often not deep enough (>15 cm) for the most common native Australian bees. Learn more about native bees from ACT for Bees Australian Native Bee page.