Bees needed for Stone Fruit Trees?

myamberdog

Are some of the trees I have - the 4 in 1 apple, pear and peach; the new cherry trees, etc. in need of cross pollination, or at least self-pollination when the flowers emerge? If so, how does anyone get bees attracted to visiting those flowers?

I've been using a small paint brush to transfer pollen as my trees are still very small, but someday (soon) that won't be practical. What do you guys plant that flowers in Feb/March to attracted those pollinators?

I've tried just in this past week of going to the local nursery and seeing what the bees are landing on and it seems to be flowering rosemary, Herdenbergia (Vine Lilac) and a strange flowering Lavandula....

myambermutt

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:16 pm Post subject:

I have bees all over my peach tree right now. They just find it by smell I think.

Dauntless · Joined: 20 Nov 2010 Posts: 174 Location: Mesa, AZ

I also have a lot of bees on my flowering peach trees even though there isn't anything else flowering near them.
Another thing that I have noticed is that they are attracted to places where they can easily get water. I have a jar fountain that they love.

myamberdog · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:41 pm Post subject:

Ah, Dauntless - yes that is TRUE - I see them come round my pond quite often in the summer - GREAT IDEA!

But none on my flowering peaches as yet.....

myamberpoodle