If you live in an apartment with a small patio or deck you can still have a butterfly garden by planting the right plants in a container. Remember, butterflies visit a garden for two things: In search of food (nectar), which they get from butterfly-friendly flowers, and for host plants on which to lay their eggs.
Can butterfly bushes go in pots?
Yes! Butterfly bush will thrive in containers. Be sure to select a container that has several large drainage holes, and fill the container only with a fast-draining, light-weight potting mix.
Where is the best place to plant a butterfly garden?
Begin by finding a garden location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight and is sheltered from the wind. Your spot also needs to provide nighttime hiding places for butterflies such as small trees or large shrubs, and places for them to attach while in their chrysalis.
What soil is best for butterfly garden?
loam soil
Soil: Loose, well drained loam soil is preferred for this garden, but native butterfly plants will grow in almost any soil and moisture levels.
How do you make a beautiful butterfly garden?
7 STEPS TO A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY GARDEN
- Make a plan. Determine which species you want to attract and are most likely to be in your area.
- Provide food. Adult butterflies rely solely on liquid food sources.
- Create shelter.
- Offer water.
- Keep it sunny.
- Plant in drifts.
- Go organic.
How often do you water a butterfly plant?
weekly
Butterfly bush roots do not like to sit in wet soil, especially during cooler evenings. The plants can handle short periods of drought once they are mature. After the shrub is established, water most varieties at least weekly when temperatures soar above 85 degrees. Again, the key is deep watering.
Do butterfly bushes need full sun?
Light: Butterfly bushes grow and flower best in full sun. They will grow fine in part shade, especially in warmer climates, but their flowering may be reduced. Soil: Butterfly bushes are not particular about the soil conditions, as long as it drains well. Poorly-drained soils can cause root rot.
What is the best time of year to plant a butterfly garden?
2) Spring & fall are the best time to garden.
You can only safely ignore new transplants like this in the fall or early spring. It depends on the weather — but milder temps, cloudy days and rain tend to make new plants very happy.
What flower do butterflies like the most?
For butterflies, Joe-Pye weed, ironweed, coneflowers, goldenrod, and brightly-hued asters are nectar-filled favorites.
How do I start a small butterfly garden?
How to Create a Butterfly Garden
- Step 1: Select Site for Butterfly Garden. A variety of broad-leafed trees and shrubs will provide cover from wind, rain and predators.
- Step 2: Remember the Rocks. Invite butterflies to sunbathe.
- Step 3: Provide Water.
- Step 4: Add the Plants.
- Step 5: Avoid Using Pesticides.
Should I put mulch in my butterfly garden?
After you plant your butterfly garden, spread several inches of mulch over the soil to help suppress the growth of weeds and keep the soil moist longer during times of drought. In a butterfly garden, you may not need to worry as much about weeds as some weed species are good butterfly attractors, as well.
How do I keep weeds out of my butterfly garden?
Mulch can help to suppress weeds. The application of a granular weed preventer can also be helpful. Just know that weed preventers kill the seeds of plants that are laying on the ground, so if you have plants growing in your butterfly garden that you want to reseed themselves, a weed preventer might kill these seeds.
Should you fertilize butterfly garden?
Never fertilize the lawn, not even with organic fertilizer. Butterflies draw water and minerals from the lawn, and fertilization might kill them. Don’t overwater the lawn; many of the wild plants that butterflies like prefer dry land. Don’t mow the lawn too often.
How much space do you need for a butterfly garden?
A butterfly garden can range from a large plot of land, to a 5′ x 10″ strip near a walkway to a window box or a container garden. Since butterflies tend to be more active in the sun, large open sunny areas are an important factor for the garden.
What should a butterfly garden look like?
There should be a part of the garden that gets at least 5-6 hours of full sunlight each day. Since butterflies are cold-blooded, they seek out warmth first thing in the morning. You can include large rocks that will warm quickly in the sun to provide a nice warming spot for them to start their day.
What plants do butterflies need to survive?
NECTAR SOURCE
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Coleus (Solenostemon scutellaroides)
- Lantana (Lantana camara)
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
- Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora)
- Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)
Can you use Miracle Grow on butterfly bushes?
This method of fertilization should only be done once a year, and is best done in late fall after leaf drop, or in early spring before bud break. Liquid fertilizers (such as Miracle Gro) are mixed with water and applied the same as you would water the plant (see product for specific details).
Are butterfly bushes low maintenance?
The popularity of butterfly bushes is no surprise as they’re beautiful, easy to grow and require minimal day-to-day care. Even major storms have little effect on these hardy shrubs. They thrive in harsh environments, such as polluted urban settings. They’re also resistant to insects, drought and stress.
What month do butterfly bushes bloom?
Butterfly Bush blooms from mid-summer to early fall. Flowers form drooping or upright spikes at the end of branches.
Do butterfly bushes come back every year?
Butterfly bushes are perennial plants that die back to the ground every winter. They then send out new growth from the roots in the spring. You can prune them either in the late fall or in the early spring before the new growth starts. It is best to prune them back to about 12 inches from the ground.
Do butterfly bushes attract mosquitoes?
While more commonly known for their stunning flowers that will bring numerous butterflies to your yard, butterfly bushes will, unfortunately, bring mosquitoes along with them.