How to create an insect paradise in your garden

More than 1.5million species of insects have been identified worldwide, with over 27,000 of those found in Great Britain alone.

There are three key types of insects in the world: pollinators, decomposers, and predators. Together, they play a critical part in maintaining the world’s ecosystems.

It was published in 2019’s Biological Conservation journal that more than 40% of insect species are declining in numbers, and a third of insect species are now endangered.

Therefore, it is more important than ever that we recognise the importance of insects, protect them, and even encourage them into our gardens.

A great way to do this is to create an insect paradise at home. Read on to find out how you can attract insects to your garden.

Provide Shelter & Warmth

Insects like to be warm and dry, so choose a sunny yet sheltered area to focus your efforts in creating a haven for insects. This could be in a small patch or corner of the garden.

Plant Flowers

Flowers attract insects and provide them with nectar. The insects then go on to pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

Planting various flowers in your garden will encourage all kinds of insects into your garden. Lavender and alliums will attract bumblebees, and buddleja will attract butterflies.

Avoid planting double flowers, such as bedding geraniums, busy lizzies, or double begonias, as these are often a poor source of nectar.

Insects are typically most active between March and October, so try to have plants which flower throughout this time to ensure insects have a continuous supply of nectar.

It is also a good idea to plant late-winter flowers, such as crocuses, daphnes, and winter-flowering viburnum, to ensure any early risers have a good source of nectar.

Use Natural Deterrents

Replace chemical pesticides with natural pest deterrents. Certain plants can be effective in deterring unwanted pests, and will not harm your plants, insects, or wildlife.

For example, nettles are great for deterring snails away from your flowers and vegetables as they will be attracted to the nettles and eat those instead.

Provide Water

Did you know that bees can consume several litres of water per day? It can be easy to overlook the fact that insects need water.

You can help insects to stay hydrated by keeping a shallow container out in the garden which can collect rainwater.

Leave Some Weeds

Try to leave the occasional weed undisturbed. They will add diversity to your garden, which will attract a wider variety of insects, as well as providing additional shelter.

Create A Bug Hotel

Having a bug hotel in your garden will encourage insects to come and stay in your garden, plus they can also provide a food source for wildlife such as hedgehogs and some species of birds.

All you need is some scrap wood or pallets to make a frame or structure, and some items to stack within it, such as tubes, small logs, twigs, and bamboo.

If you would prefer to buy one ready-made, assembled bug hotels are widely available to purchase online and in stores such as garden centres and supermarkets.

For further advice on how to attract insects and other wildlife to your garden, please contact our friendly and knowledgeable team on 01775 769333 or via sales@bostonbulbswholesale.co.uk.

Utilise the filter system on our website to help you select the best plants for pollinators, by selecting “Yes” under “RHS - Perfect For Bees”.

The Boston Bulb Company has over 40 years of experience in supplying only the finest quality horticultural products from farmers and growers throughout the UK and Europe