The Best Plants to Put in a Butterfly Garden
If you love butterflies and want to keep pollinators happy, it's important to create a garden where they can find plenty of food and water. Nectar is critical to providing all pollinators with energy to complete their life cycle.
Decide what butterflies appeal to you most
You can manage the types of butterflies drawn to your yard by what you plant. For example, milkweed is a wonderful food source for monarchs. If you already have a cottonwood tree in your yard, adding a dill plant can be an excellent draw for swallowtail butterflies.
Review the plants you already have to see if any of them will be effective in bringing in butterflies. Then, shape your planting plans to draw in even more butterflies.
Find a spot with full sun
If you're new to landscaping or garden planning, invite out a professional from Bard Nurseries to assess your yard. Butterflies are drawn to plants that thrive in sunny conditions. From flowering annuals to annual herbs, you will need flowers that provide the right color and plenty of food to support your butterfly goals.
It may be necessary to trim or remove trees to create your butterfly garden. You may not be able to have it near your home, but find a quiet corner away from your house for butterflies to gather. A knowledgeable landscaper can help you work with what you have to find the best spot.
Offer protection from the wind
Contact Cincinnati Pergola to create a spot that will support flowering vines. These vines will offer nectar and a break from the wind when summer storms roll through.
Pay special attention to any fruits that your vining plants may drop. There are many pretty flowers that drop a non-edible berry. Take care that you don't plant anything that will stain if you want to sit under the canopy of your pergola.
Build your butterfly garden wisely
Once you've got a spot and you know what you want to plant, make sure you build your garden well. If your soil is in good shape, make sure you lay down soaker hoses so you don't need to run sprinklers out there. You can't protect your butterflies from hard rainfall, but you can avoid having to spray water on them.
If you put any fruiting plants in your butterfly garden, make sure you keep the fruit picked up. Even if you don't plan to eat it, any natural sugar left to rot can draw wasps. Because butterflies are drawn to bright colors and love nectar, you're already increasing your risk of wasps. Keep an eye out for their nests and treat the area immediately if you notice any wasp nests going up.
Enjoy!
Humans enjoy spaces where butterflies hang out. Create a spot that will feed your need for beauty as it feeds the butterflies in the area with nectar. Check out ideas from TheHomeMag on our Facebook page and make sure you view the images on Instagram.
