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Build a Window Box for Bees

Even if you don’t have an outside space, you can still help bees by planting a window box full of pollen- and nectar-rich flowers. As we’ve already learned, city environments can be a rich and diverse source of food for bees.

Single-species window boxes can look really striking – few things make an impact more than a container full of just lavender, salvias or lupins. Many of the flowers listed earlier in the book (see 11. Grow Blooms for Bees) will work brilliantly in containers or window boxes, either planted en masse or as part of an arrangement. Herbs are also a natural for window boxes and will soon be colonised by pollinating insects – try thyme, prostrate rosemary, chives, mint, marjoram (see 9. Grow Herbs for Bees).

If you want a window box that will attract a range of bees, or that includes more than one plant species, there are some easy rules to follow that can help you create something that’s both beautiful and useful for pollinators:

•Stick to three plants – go for colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel (i.e. pinks, purples, blues) or complementary opposite colours (i.e. yellows and purples) if you want something eye-catching.

•Just as when you’re creating a flower bouquet, choose plants that have different forms. Mix together something that creates height or ‘spikes of interest’ (such as lupins, alliums, poppies or echinops), something that gives the window box a solid body of colour (such as salvias, lavender, catmint, Mexican fleabane, heathers), and something that has glorious, softening foliage but is still useful for bees (such as sage, heuchera, geranium, ivy).

•Work out what flowers simultaneously – you need everything to look good at the same time. For example, a summer window box could include sage, salvia and alliums, while an autumn container would suit bee-friendly nerines, ivy and sedum.

•When you’re growing plants in such a confined space, with the roots tightly packed together, you need a hard-working compost that’s full of nutrients and won’t dry out too quickly. Go for a good-quality compost and, once you’ve planted up, dress the surface with a layer of fine grit to keep the moisture trapped in (see 30. Use Peat-free Compost).

•Unless you’ve chosen drought-tolerant plants, you’ll need to water the window box regularly – every day in summer.