🐝 Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden That Still Looks Great
Why Design for Pollinators?
Bees, butterflies, hoverflies and moths are more than just charming garden visitors — they’re vital to our ecosystems and food systems. But you don’t need to give up beautiful design to create a garden that supports wildlife.
In fact, a pollinator-friendly garden can be stunning. With the right plant choices, layout and structure, your space can become a buzzing, blooming haven that works for both humans and nature.
1. Choose the Right Plants
Pollinators love nectar-rich, open flowers. They often struggle with complex, highly bred varieties, so keep it natural and diverse. Our top pollinator favourites that also look great in a garden setting include:
Echinacea (Coneflower) – architectural, colourful, and adored by bees
Verbena bonariensis – airy and tall, great in borders
Nepeta (Catmint) – soft, fragrant, long-flowering
Lavender – classic, evergreen, drought-tolerant
Alliums – bold globes that pollinators flock to in early summer
Foxgloves – ideal for bees and shady borders
Wild marjoram, thyme & chives – edible for you, irresistible to insects
Aim for at least three things flowering at any time between March and October.
2. Think Layers and Structure
Pollinators are drawn to gardens with varied structure and planting heights, which also happens to look more natural and visually interesting.
Include:
A mix of groundcovers, perennials, and shrubs
Taller plants at the back for vertical interest
Climbing plants like honeysuckle or clematis for extra height
Trees or trained fruiting shrubs, which offer spring blossom and autumn fruit
Good garden design supports biodiversity without sacrificing elegance.
3. Avoid These Common Mistakes
Too much hard landscaping: Go for permeable surfaces and leave room for planting.
Double or highly bred flowers: They often lack accessible nectar.
Excessive use of pesticides: These harm beneficial insects as well as pests.
If you must treat pests, use organic, pollinator-safe methods and apply them at dusk when bees are less active.
4. Add a Water Source
Pollinators need clean water to drink, especially during hot months. Even a small, shallow dish of water with pebbles for landing can make a big difference.
Want to go bigger? A small pond with native aquatic plants boosts biodiversity and becomes a true focal point.
5. Let Some Areas Go Wild
You don’t need to turn the whole garden into a meadow, but allowing a corner of lawn to grow, or letting herbs flowerbefore pruning, gives wildlife breathing space. It also adds a relaxed, natural charm to your design.
If you love a neat look, this works especially well as a contrast to structured planting elsewhere.
6. Design It Beautifully
Wildlife-friendly doesn’t mean wild and messy. Great garden design can incorporate:
Gravel paths and stepping stones for texture and contrast
Formal hedges with looser planting inside
Rustic materials like timber, corten steel, or aged pots
Repeating colour themes with plants that pollinators love
The result? A curated, calming space that’s alive with colour, scent and sound.
Final Thought: Beauty with Purpose
Designing with pollinators in mind makes your garden more dynamic, more sustainable, and — ultimately — more enjoyable to be in. Every flower you plant becomes part of a bigger picture.
Let’s create a garden that’s not just good-looking, but good for the planet, too.
📧 Get in touch at info@hortservices.co.uk
📞 Or call us on (+44) 77601 29222