bees in garden

[porkchop]

Our dahlias are in full bloom but the problem is they seem to attract loads of bees which we definately dont want. Are Dahlias among the top flowers that attract bees? If so, then it looks like i will have to get my spade out. Any other solution?

[brenda]

Why don't you want the bees.?

They are valuable insects in the whole chain of plant life.

[Robinia]

You don't want bees? That's a shame because they're in decline & we should be encouraging them every way we can...all the flowering plants & shrubs in my garden are chosen to attract them as well as butterflies.

Yes, they do love dahlias but unless you or someone in your home has a really serious allergy problem with stings please reconsider doing away with your blooms...leave the bees alone & they'll be too busy doing their job to bother you.

[LoftyLottie]

I am so pleased this year that our garden is attracting hundreds of bees. It has been wonderful knowing how much we are helping as they are now endangered.

Bees are vital to our very being - our agriculture can't survive without them. They are delightful creatures and they don't bother us unless we bother them. I actually plant things intentionally for them (and the birds).

[Ian Oldfield]

buy plastic dahlias then stick em in concrete as you definitely
don't want any natural influences do you it would be a shame

[Whoever]

What on earth don't you want bees? They are essential to fertilising crops and pollinating fruit trees and the world's population would starve to death without the essential function they perform. Bees rarely sting unless they are threatened. They're not like wasps which can be a nuisance. Please reconsider. If you don't want any bees in your garden, just lay the whole lot to grass but this would be a tragedy for the bees, and also for mankind because removing the flowers which nourishes them is doing your bit for the environment and keeping them alive to pollinate your neighbours' nearby fruit trees, raspberry & strawberry plants, runner beans, tomatoes, etc.

[Robinia]

mmm, lay the whole lot to grass Whoever? Grass gets clover in it unless you put weedkiller on it regularly...bees LOVE clover, haha.
Hard luck porkchop, slabs it is then ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

Ha ha Robinia. You are right about the clover. We seem to have had loads of it this year so have left large patches of it in the middle of our grass (not posh enough to be lawns) just to keep the bees happy.

[LoftyLottie]

I should say large patches of it 'unmown'.

[porkchop]

robinia and Loftylottie and others. I am not a mass murderer of the bees! I just have to do what my dear wife tells me.