If you’re thinking about painting your fence this summer, have you considered making it bee-friendly? That’s right, something as simple as your fence colour can have an impact on how bees are attracted to your garden - garden experts have revealed the four colours you should use if you want to attract bees.
This wildlife-friendly garden fence idea is a great way to encourage bees to your garden, whilst giving your fence some TLC at the same time. Not to mention that bees are an essential part of any wildlife garden as they are vital pollinators.
Selecting a bee-friendly fence colour all boils down to selecting a shade that reflects UV light and mimics natural nectar sources (think bee-friendly flowers). These are the four shades the experts recommend.
1. Purple
While purple isn’t exactly the most traditional of garden fence colours, it is a good choice for those of us who have both maximalist tastes and want to attract bees to our gardens. Bees love the colour purple and are attracted to purple flowers such as agastache - so why not apply this to your fence?
‘Bees love the colours purple and blue, think about the colours of the flowers of lavender, phacelia, borage, sage and buddleia. They are attracted to these colours because bees' eyes are sensitive to UV light, and purple and blue contrast well against green foliage. Through bees' eyes these colours really stand out,’ explains Jenny Handley, head of communication and fundraising at Bees for Development, in collaboration with paint brand Protek.
‘It is important to attract bees to your garden because they pollinate your fruit and veg, wildflowers (we don't say weeds) and all your lovely garden plants, which then go on to produce berries and seeds for other wildlife.’
2. Blue
Similar to why bees like purple so much, blue is also a great colour choice as it is easier for them to see this colour.
‘Without red receptors in their eyes, bees are highly sensitive to blue, green and ultraviolet shades, with bright, true blues being particularly vibrant to them. This is why bees are attracted to the bright blue flowers of borage, cornflowers and russian sage, which are also rich in pollen,’ explains Bradley, gardening and greenhouse expert at Easy Garden Irrigation.
‘As a consequence, bees associate blue with pollen and nectar and so will be attracted to your garden when they see blue fencing from a distance, as they see it as a beacon indicating a good source of food.
‘With so many shades of blue to choose from when selecting paint, it’s best to avoid the dark shades and pick the more vivid ones, such as Cuprinol's Beach Blue or Ronseal’s Cornflower Blue.’
3. White
The classic white picket fence can also be great at attracting bees to your garden. This is a great choice if you’re less keen on choosing a bold, vibrant hue.
‘White may look like the safe, classic choice, but don't underestimate it; this shade works overtime for your garden visitors because it reflects light rather than absorbing it,’ says Melissa Quinney, gardening expert at Cabin Master.
‘A white fence acts like a giant mirror, bouncing brightness into shady corners and warming up the immediate area just enough to coax bees out of their nests earlier in the morning. It's a subtle little trick, but by encouraging bees to start foraging earlier and carry on later, you’re effectively giving them more hours to pollinate your flowers, veg patches and fruit trees, which means a healthier, more productive garden all year round!’
4. Yellow
Last but not least is yellow. With hot borders (the practice of choosing fiery-coloured plants for your borders to make your garden feel warmer) trending, why not take it a step further with a warm, sunshine-esque fence?
‘Bees are known to favour yellow flowers over other colours as their eyes are highly sensitive to that part of the light spectrum, as well as matching the colour of pollen, which they are constantly seeking. For this reason, if you paint your fence panels yellow, bees will be able to identify your garden as a place they can get the best nectar and pollen,’ says Lucie.
‘Yellow also makes a great contrast against the natural greens and browns of your garden, so it will look good to you as well as enabling it to stand out to our buzzing helpers!’
Bees are an important part of any garden ecosystem, so why not paint your fence a shade that welcomes them this summer?
