Wildlife gardening – bee-friendly spring pot display

Bee-friendly spring pot display

Find out how to provide for bees in spring, by planting up a container of bee-friendly plants.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is not at its best in June

Plant is not at its best in July

Plant is not at its best in August

Plant is not at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do not To do in March

Do not To do in April

Do not To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Most queen bumblebees hibernate in autumn, building up fat reserves to survive winter without food. In spring, they are hungry, urgently needing life-giving nectar. To help them along, pot up some early-flowering plants to help them replace lost energy before they fly off in search of a nesting site.

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You Will Need

  • Hellebore plants (2)
  • Primrose plants (2)
  • Grape hyacinth bulbs (10)
  • Snake's head fritillary bulbs (10)
  • Crocus corms (10)
  • 30cm terracotta pot
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost

Total time:

Step 1

Teasing the hellebores out of the pot
Teasing the hellebores out of the pot

Add crocks to the base of the pot, then fill two-thirds with compost. Place the hellebores and primroses in position.

Step 2

Planting the crocus corms
Planting the crocus corms

Fill compost in around the plants’ roots, up to the rim of the pot, and firm gently. Plant the bulbs and corms in the gaps.

Step 3

Watering the display
Watering the display

Water plants thoroughly and allow to drain. Move the pot to a sunny, sheltered position, to encourage early flowering.

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Kevin Smith says…

These plants will all thrive in the garden once the container display is past its best. They’re unfussy characters and will do well in most positions, although try them under a tree to create a woodland feel.

Kevin Smith