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Autumn most definitely arrived and it’s that time of year when every day I have free to go to the plot - it’s raining! It’s such a busy time of year, that rain simply can’t stop play so waterproofs on and off to the allotment I will go, come rain or shine!
Thankfully having the Rhino Greenhouse means when the rain does get heavier, sowing seeds and pottering in the greenhouse is top of the list plus giving everything one final clean out before the ten-der perennials are moved inside for the winter period.
Along with clearing, weeding and mulching, I am looking at ways to help Bumblebees overwinter on the plot and how to encourage more next year. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust recently an-nounced that their research shows 2024 has been the worst on record for precious Bumblebees. Not only is that a potential disaster for nature but what a terribly sad place our gardens would be without Bumblebees!
So if you are planning your garden or allotment for next year, consider planting lots of open pollinat-ed plants, choose plants with pollinators in mind and create spaces in your garden where bees and other insects can shelter and nest. For over the winter period, allow some small piles of soil to be left, leave piles of wood/twigs and old stems out and consider adding some insect hotels and bee homes for Queen Bees to sleep over winter. Don’t forget not to disturb them next spring until they have woken up and started the cycle over again.
Ensuring there is plenty of food for bees all year round is important as well. Flowering herbs are su-perb for bees such as Marjoram, Lavender and Mint and late flowering plants including Buddleja and Sedum are important to include in any garden where possible. There are many other beautiful gar-den plants that will not only help to create a lovely garden but will fill it with pollinators and other gar-den wildlife. Agastache, Foxgloves, Honeysuckle and Cranesbill are all ideal as are many others.
Enjoy some autumn gardening, helping the bees and the changing colours in the trees.
