Let’s talk about bumblebees
Don't turn your back on the bees, they need you more than ever
In a world that’s waking up to the importance of pollinators, here at Bumblebombs, we're on an exciting Bumblemission to help these amazing little heroes thrive.
Did you know that our beloved bumblees are vanishing at an alarming rate due to habitat loss, pesticides and climate? Without bees, our ecosystems and food supply are in jeopardy, but here’s the fantastic news—small actions can create a massive impact.
Saving bees isn’t just about planting, it's also about transforming our mindset and how treasure our natural world. Our bee-saving products are crafted to make a real difference, whether you’re helping pollinators directly or inspiring others to join the cause.
As we move towards September, please don't go for the easy option and pause before reaching for weed killers or pesticides.
Bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects are still gathering the food they need before autumn, and your garden can help them. Leave flowering ‘weeds’ such as dandelions and clover standing for a little longer. Their nectar and pollen are valuable late-season food, while pesticides can harm beneficial insects as well as the pests they target. Toxic Weed killers remove these important food sources.
If you don't want to opt for a less manicured and more natural garden, pull only the weeds that are causing a real problem and do it by hand where possible. Mark a few flowering patches to leave untouched and let untidy corners, chewed leaves and minor pest damage remain. These areas provide shelter and food for birds, ladybirds and other wildlife.
Remember - weeds are only flowers growing in the wrong places so put the spray away, leave flowering weeds in place and choose a wilder garden.
A few weeks of patience can give insects the food and shelter they need to thrive.
Six little tricks for weeding.... and they don't come in a bottle!
Boiling water – great for weeds in paving cracks and gravel. Pour directly onto the leaves and crown. Avoid anywhere near plants or weeds you want to keep.
The cardboard trick – for a weedy patch you want to reclaim, cover it with overlapping plain brown cardboard, wet it and add compost or mulch on top. It blocks the light and gradually smothers the weeds.
Pull after rain – ridiculously simple, but damp September soil makes it much easier to get the whole root out rather than snapping it.
Old dinner fork hack – surprisingly good for levering out small tap-rooted weeds between paving or from beds.
Mulch, mulch, mulch – a 5–8 cm layer of bark, leaf mould or compost suppresses new weeds while improving the soil. Cut rather than spray – if something is too established to pull, repeatedly cutting it to ground level gradually exhausts the root.
Leave some alone – the best pollinator-friendly hack! Clover, dandelions and several plants we automatically call “weeds” are valuable food sources. If they’re not causing a problem, they don’t necessarily need removing.I’d avoid the viral vinegar-and-salt weedkiller recipes. Salt in particular can persist in soil and damage other plants and soil life — not really compatible with a wildlife-friendly garden.
