“Scientists at the University of Minnesota research flowering bee lawns as a concrete way that public land managers and homeowners can support bees. Many bee pollinator populations are in decline due to several factors, including a lack of bee-friendly flowers, exposure to pesticides, as well as diseases and parasites. Turfgrass lawns are ubiquitous in urban and suburban areas, covering more than 2% of the land area of the continental U.S., but don’t provide nectar or pollen for bees. Flowering bee lawns incorporate low-growing, perennial flowers into turfgrass lawns. The selected flowers are rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees and can withstand mowing and moderate foot traffic. This means flowering lawns can support bees while preserving the open sightlines and many of the recreational uses provided by traditional lawns…. Flowering lawns increase the diversity and abundance of flowers, helping support both honey bees and nativebees. So far, we have found 56 species of bees feeding on Dutch white clover alone. That represents roughly 15% of all known bee species in the entire state of Minnesota.”
In depth guide
Researchers at the University of Minnesota recommend overseeding flower seeds into the lawn in the late fall when the seeds are dormant, setting them up to germinate in the spring. In Pennsylvania, flowers such as clover, buckwheat, violets, and burdock will support the bees in our area. The US Forest Service recommends only cutting your lawn every two to three weeks to allow flowers such as clover to bloom and be visited by bees.
In depth guide
Researchers at the University of Minnesota recommend overseeding flower seeds into the lawn in the late fall when the seeds are dormant, setting them up to germinate in the spring. In Pennsylvania, flowers such as clover, buckwheat, violets, and burdock will support the bees in our area. The US Forest Service recommends only cutting your lawn every two to three weeks to allow flowers such as clover to bloom and be visited by bees.
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