How to create a summer pot for pollinators

How to create a summer pot for pollinators

Serve up a feast for pollinators by creating this gorgeous summer pot.

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 not 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 at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is 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 To do in March

Do To do in April

Do To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hoverflies, need nectar to give them energy to fly, and bees also need pollen to feed their young. Give them a helping hand by creating this pot packed with colourful, pollen- and nectar-rich blooms.

More on gardening for pollinators:

Find out how to create a wildlife-friendly summer pot for pollinators, below.

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You Will Need

  • Large pot
  • Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
  • Nectar-rich plants, such as agastache, liatris, oregano, sage and lamb's ears

Step 1

Choose a pot at least 50cm in diameter and fill the pot two-thirds full with compost. Remove the plants from their pots and tease out the roots if tightly congested.

Planting the plants in the pot
Planting the plants in the pot

Step 2

Arrange the plants evenly in the pot, with the tallest at the back. Fill in around the rootballs with compost, then firm down gently to a few centimetres below the rim.

Filling the gaps with compost
Filling the gaps with compost

Step 3

Water the container well and top up with more compost if necessary. Ensure the pot remains moist but not waterlogged and deadhead blooms to keep them flowering.

Watering the plants
Watering the plants
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Worried about caterpillars? The caterpillars of many butterfly species that visit our gardens, actually feed on plants often thought of as weeds, including nettles and dock. Rather than cutting them all down, one of the best things you can do is leave certain areas of garden to their own devices, to allow these food plants to grow. Food plants include nettles, birdsfoot trefoil, thistles (Onopordum), buckthorn and garlic mustard.