Do you plant for your bees?

[AustinB]

Anyone in the Southeast or South Central climate zones plant crops / flowers specifically for your bees? I?m interested in what you are using and how you like it, small or large scale. I?m going to be planting sunflowers and misc perennials around my hives, but I also have some land that is not currently in ag use, and I?m considering a larger crop of plant specifically for the bees.

[paus]

My picture on this site shows me in a field of Lemon Queen Sunflowers planted for Bees and everyone's pleasure, they are next to a road and I always get lots of comments.  There is about 1/2 acre in Sunflowers.

[.30WCF]

I put in a few sourwood trees and blueberries. I would like to find some flaming sumac to plant in the edge of the woods.


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[Pazuzu]

small or large scale.

I wouldn?t bother with worrying what to plant in  ?small? scale, ie backyard setting as it will make zero difference for the bees. It?s the other way round and bees will be a benefit for a backyard plants.

[.30WCF]

I?ve tried to have this conversation a time or two. I?ve emailed the bee supply shops around and tried to encourage folks to plant a summer blooming plant or two. The naysayers always say it won?t make a hill of beans. Sure, my 4 sourwood trees won?t do much, but if you talked with the people you knew in the area and over a few years planted 50, or 100 as a group effort, I?ve got to believe it will make a difference. I feel like I don?t have to plant 50 acres of something if I can talk a club into talking their neighbors into letting them plant a couple trees here and there. But that all depends on what kind of contacts you have in your area. If you could get a local nursery to start promoting certain plants, over time it will help.
I would focus on derth relief over pretty spring flowers.


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[CoolBees]

At my place, we've planted the following for the bees:

Black locust
Honey locust
Silver linden
Littleleaf linden
American basswood
Tupelo
Tulip trees
Japanese lilac trees
Japanese pagoda trees
Decorative plums
Asian pears
Bartlett pears
(I forget) pears
Bing cherries
Utah cherries
Tartarian cherries
Ranier cherries
Tallow trees
6 types of apples
2 types of grapefruit
3 types of oranges
Kumquats
Tangerines
Manderine
Limes
2 types of lemons
Plus various flowering, bee friendly bushes.

... And I forget what else.

I read somewhere, that 2 mature honey locust trees outproduced 10 acres of clover in honey production. Don't know if that's true ... but it's worth trying.

Question: When is the best time to plant a tree? Answer: 20 years ago.
Question: when is the 2nd best time to plant a tree? Answer: today.

Anyways - that what we've done for the last few yrs. I'll let you know in another 20 yrs if it was the right decision. 

[CoolBees]

I?ve tried to have this conversation a time or two. I?ve emailed the bee supply shops around and tried to encourage folks to plant a summer blooming plant or two. The naysayers always say it won?t make a hill of beans. Sure, my 4 sourwood trees won?t do much, but if you talked with the people you knew in the area and over a few years planted 50, or 100 as a group effort, I?ve got to believe it will make a difference. I feel like I don?t have to plant 50 acres of something if I can talk a club into talking their neighbors into letting them plant a couple trees here and there. But that all depends on what kind of contacts you have in your area. If you could get a local nursery to start promoting certain plants, over time it will help.
I would focus on derth relief over pretty spring flowers.


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I agree with everything said. I've got my neighbors planting tree that my bees need also.

My Focus was to have 3 types of tree in bloom each month of the year. (A neighbor has Eucalyptus that flower Nov thru Mar).

[The15thMember]

I agree with most of the other posts.  If you've got land lying around doing nothing there is no reason not to plant some sort of forage crop on it.  Sunflowers are a great choice, not only for honeys but for native bees as well.  Trees are never ever a bad way to go.  The majority of my major flows here in the mountains are trees, and one tree can produce the same amount of nectar as a cultivated acre or more in many cases.  And focusing on plants that bloom during your dearth is a great way to make a big impact.  Some other non-tree heavy hitters in my experience are borage and sulfur cosmos.       

small or large scale.

I wouldn?t bother with worrying what to plant in  ?small? scale, ie backyard setting as it will make zero difference for the bees. It?s the other way round and bees will be a benefit for a backyard plants.

I?ve tried to have this conversation a time or two. I?ve emailed the bee supply shops around and tried to encourage folks to plant a summer blooming plant or two. The naysayers always say it won?t make a hill of beans. Sure, my 4 sourwood trees won?t do much, but if you talked with the people you knew in the area and over a few years planted 50, or 100 as a group effort, I?ve got to believe it will make a difference. I feel like I don?t have to plant 50 acres of something if I can talk a club into talking their neighbors into letting them plant a couple trees here and there. But that all depends on what kind of contacts you have in your area. If you could get a local nursery to start promoting certain plants, over time it will help.
I would focus on derth relief over pretty spring flowers.


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I agree with WCF, it's drops in a bucket.  Not much to look at, but makes a difference over time.  The way I treat it is that if I'm going to plant something somewhere, for whatever reason, I always pick something that is pollinator friendly over something that is not.  For almost any landscaping or land managing project, you have the option to pick flowers that will be helpful to your local pollinators, and that's always better than choosing some sterile flower that was bred to be showy but has no nectar or pollen. 
 

[.30WCF]

I?ve tried to have this conversation a time or two. I?ve emailed the bee supply shops around and tried to encourage folks to plant a summer blooming plant or two. The naysayers always say it won?t make a hill of beans. Sure, my 4 sourwood trees won?t do much, but if you talked with the people you knew in the area and over a few years planted 50, or 100 as a group effort, I?ve got to believe it will make a difference. I feel like I don?t have to plant 50 acres of something if I can talk a club into talking their neighbors into letting them plant a couple trees here and there. But that all depends on what kind of contacts you have in your area. If you could get a local nursery to start promoting certain plants, over time it will help.
I would focus on derth relief over pretty spring flowers.


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I agree with everything said. I've got my neighbors planting tree that my bees need also.

My Focus was to have 3 types of tree in bloom each month of the year. (A neighbor has Eucalyptus that flower Nov thru Mar).

I got no reply to my emails from any of the 8 bee supply shops in my area.
I?m frequently met with in conversation, your two trees won?t matter. I guess they are the same people who don?t vote since their one vote won?t matter, but then complain about the results. 


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[CoolBees]

I got no reply to my emails from any of the 8 bee supply shops in my area.
I?m frequently met with in conversation, your two trees won?t matter. I guess they are the same people who don?t vote since their one vote won?t matter, but then complain about the results. 

Sounds about right.

I live by 2 sayings:

1) 5% of the people think. 10% of people think that they "think". The other 85% would rather die, than think.
2) if you make people "think" that they're thinking, they will love you. But, if you ACTUALLY make them think, they will hate you.

Assuming an average spacing between trees of 25', I can fit 81 trees per acre. That ought to make a difference in honey production. That was my thoughts. (A General Disclaimer: Different trees need different spacing. Some need 40', & some need 12', etc.)

Anyways - I figure I'm right. 

[.30WCF]

Now your making me think.


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[CoolBees]

I played around for 3 years with cover crops - alfalfa, clovers, etc. They used too much water, and netted too little return in honey. ... so I switched my thinking to honey producing trees. I do plant mint(s) & clovers around the base of the trees. These add a little for the bees, and keep weeds down, and fix nitrogen into the soil - thus feeding the trees.

[CoolBees]

Now your making me think.

I just spit out my beer ... 

[Bob Wilson]

Austin,
I saw a video seminar by Mike Austin, an arborist and beekeeper, that was very compelling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI-i-aj34Vc. He also claimed that planting landscape flowers made little difference. Instead, almost all honey gain comes from trees blooming in the area, some of which are inconspicuous. While an acre or two of clover might be nice, most people don't have the space. Besides, a couple of grown Linden trees provide even more potential honey gain, and can be grown in a neighborhood yard.
If I can move anytime soon to a more rural area, I plan on the long range investment of the following trees: Linden, pear, sourwood, American holly, chastetree, Tulip poplar, and perhaps a few other fruit trees. And perhaps get permission to plant some saplings around my neighbors' homesteads as well.

[The15thMember]

I live by 2 sayings:

1) 5% of the people think. 10% of people think that they "think". The other 85% would rather die, than think.
2) if you make people "think" that they're thinking, they will love you. But, if you ACTUALLY make them think, they will hate you.

Oh Alan, thank you.  After 25 years of living, I finally understand people.  You have explained the human race to me.     

[AustinB]

Austin,
I saw a video seminar by Mike Austin, an arborist and beekeeper, that was very compelling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI-i-aj34Vc. He also claimed that planting landscape flowers made little difference. Instead, almost all honey gain comes from trees blooming in the area, some of which are inconspicuous. While an acre or two of clover might be nice, most people don't have the space. Besides, a couple of grown Linden trees provide even more potential honey gain, and can be grown in a neighborhood yard.
If I can move anytime soon to a more rural area, I plan on the long range investment of the following trees: Linden, pear, sourwood, American holly, chastetree, Tulip poplar, and perhaps a few other fruit trees. And perhaps get permission to plant some saplings around my neighbors' homesteads as well.

Thanks for the vid!

Appreciate all the feedback. I follow the line of thought that small increases, though not necessarily quantifiable, are still beneficial. I don't believe I would have to see an increase in honey production in order to make a positive impact (though some people may only be concerned about that aspect.)
We currently have fruit and nut trees on the property, and will soon be adding apples and cherries, as well as a few rows of grapes. We live in a very rural area with rich ag & orchard country. I think if I end up turning a couple acres into something bigger later down the road, it will likely be a plant that provides mid to late season harvest for the bees. Something that will bolster end of year and help prepare for the cold months.

[Ben Framed]

I got no reply to my emails from any of the 8 bee supply shops in my area.
I?m frequently met with in conversation, your two trees won?t matter. I guess they are the same people who don?t vote since their one vote won?t matter, but then complain about the results. 

Sounds about right.

I live by 2 sayings:

1) 5% of the people think. 10% of people think that they "think". The other 85% would rather die, than think.
2) if you make people "think" that they're thinking, they will love you. But, if you ACTUALLY make them think, they will hate you.

Assuming an average spacing between trees of 25', I can fit 81 trees per acre. That ought to make a difference in honey production. That was my thoughts. (A General Disclaimer: Different trees need different spacing. Some need 40', & some need 12', etc.)

Anyways - I figure I'm right. 

> But, if you ACTUALLY make them think, they will hate you.
Seems about right!  .

[FloridaGardener]

To get back to the OP's question:                 In South / Southeast US --

Try Outside Pride's gulf coast wildflower mix.  The DOT uses this roadside from Pensacola - Tallahassee.  Great forage.  Seeds that germinate in the soil instead of a flowerpot are tougher, because they had to bootstrap their way to the top.
https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/wildflower-seed/gulf-coast-wildflower-seed-mix.html

Agree 100% with Lemon Queen sunflower, if you have a place that will take the height. 

Shrubs/trees: Vitex, vitex and vitex.  Midseason flow, and if you shear with hedge trimmers, an August flow too covered with butterflies. 
A deciduous small tree, it needs irrigation at first but is drought-tolerant when established.
 
No irrigation? Go for natives.  Carolina laurel for early flow, will mature fast.  Coreopsis sown in the dirt.  Elderberry.  Nandina Domestica. 
Late bloomers welcome in the dearth:  Aster and Goldenrod, somewhat invasive Spanish Needle is covered with bees all fall. 
You can buy natives that need little or no care at a nursery like 7 Pines, DeFuniak FL. 
Or, you can check charts like this one:  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1255

Re: does it matter on a half-acre? Yes.  IMHO bees putz around close to the hive in the evenings, and will work later when forage is close.
 

[AustinB]

To get back to the OP's question:                 In South / Southeast US --

Try Outside Pride's gulf coast wildflower mix.  The DOT uses this roadside from Pensacola - Tallahassee.  Great forage.  Seeds that germinate in the soil instead of a flowerpot are tougher, because they had to bootstrap their way to the top.
https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/wildflower-seed/gulf-coast-wildflower-seed-mix.html

Agree 100% with Lemon Queen sunflower, if you have a place that will take the height. 

Shrubs/trees: Vitex, vitex and vitex.  Midseason flow, and if you shear with hedge trimmers, an August flow too covered with butterflies. 
A deciduous small tree, it needs irrigation at first but is drought-tolerant when established.
 
No irrigation? Go for natives.  Carolina laurel for early flow, will mature fast.  Coreopsis sown in the dirt.  Elderberry.  Nandina Domestica. 
Late bloomers welcome in the dearth:  Aster and Goldenrod, somewhat invasive Spanish Needle is covered with bees all fall. 
You can buy natives that need little or no care at a nursery like 7 Pines, DeFuniak FL. 
Or, you can check charts like this one:  https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1255

Re: does it matter on a half-acre? Yes.  IMHO bees putz around close to the hive in the evenings, and will work later when forage is close.

Great info, thank you!

[Bob Wilson]

Definition of a weed... a plant that grows where you don't want it to grow.
I think some of the wildflower mixes are tough, reseeding perennials that blur the line between flower and weed. Nevertheless, I have been tempted to don dark colored clothes, and at night sneak through the surrounding community sowing seeds under power line thoroughfares and untended lots.