Butterflies are very interesting creatures and a great addition to any backyard garden. Providing a welcoming environment for butterflies will attract them and provide you with an opportunity to observe these beautiful parts of nature right in your own yard. By building a butterfly garden not only will you have a yard full of beautiful visitors you will be helping to preserve these interesting insects for future generations by helping to replace natural habitat that is increasingly being destroyed by development.
Planning A Butterfly Garden
Before you can build a butterfly garden there are a few things you will need to know but with a little research you will be able to come up with a garden that will attract huge amounts of butterflies to your back yard.
What types of butterflies are in your part of the country?
What types of nectar? plants are they most attracted to?
What types of plants are host plants do their caterpillars feed off of?
To attract the most butterflies you will need to know what types live in your area. Once yo have found this out you will be able to choose the right nectar plants to attract the adult butterflies to your garden. Nectar plants are what adult butterflies feed on. To encourage as many butterflies as possible? you will also want host plants these are plants that butterflies lay their eggs on and that will feed the caterpillars. Most large universities in your state will have an entomology department and can provide you with this information.
Now that you have your information decide which types of butterflies you want to attract. Then check your plant list to determine the best plants for the type of butterflies you want in your garden. Now that you know what plants to use you will need to find out about each ones growth habits are they tall or short, annuals or perennials, and what do they look like. Armed with this information you can layout a garden plan.
The garden can be laid out in what ever way most suits your taste. You may make your garden as large or as small as you want. You do not need to make a special garden if you don't want to. Butterfly nectar plants and butterfly host plants can be added to your existing garden to encourage these visitors. A good tip is if using perennials and annuals it would be advisable to place the annuals in the front as they will need replacing every year.
Once your plans are set visit your local garden center or nursery to get the plants you need for your new butterfly garden. If you can not find the plants locally you may need to order them from a catalog or online. Be sure and check the plants requirements so that you will be able to place them into your garden and give them the proper care to encourage good growth.
When your garden is completed you can feel proud that you have done something that will help preserve these wonderful creatures many of which are rapidly disappearing. You may also want to place a garden bench or a favorite lawn chair close to the garden so you can observe and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Glenn Bronner is a professional grounds keeper with over 35 years of experience. Come join him as he tends the Urban Garden and The Woodland Garden and shares gardening tips and knowledge at his site, Glenns Garden - http://glenns-garden.com
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