How to Make a Butterfly Garden

Butterflies are some of nature's most colorful creatures. With more than 28,000 different species of butterflies worldwide, you may have only caught a glimpse of a few species of butterflies in your lifetime. However, if you desire to see more, you may want to consider creating a butterfly garden. While these gardens require your care, you will be rewarded with regular visitors and you will be helping to preserve the habitat of these beautiful creatures.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sand
• Shallow dish
• Flat rocks

1. Research which butterflies are common to your region. You will want to tailor your garden for these butterflies.

2. Select the location for your garden in an area that receives plenty of sunshine, but is protected from the wind.

3. Cultivate your soil to prepare for planting and then disperse some flat rocks throughout your garden area. These rocks will provide a landing site for butterflies to sit and warm their wings.

4. Choose plants for your garden. Try to pick plants that will attract butterflies from your region. Keep in mind that you also want to select a wide variety of plants so that you will have flowers in bloom from late spring until fall.

5. Create a few small mud puddle areas in your garden. Butterflies like to land on the edge of these mud puddles. This can be done by filling a shallow dish or bucket with sand and then adding just enough water to keep the sand moist.

6. Remember to attract caterpillars by including plants that they like to eat. These plants will also draw the females to lay eggs in the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your local university's cooperative extension for information on the species of butterflies that populate your region.
• Add some salt and manure to your mud puddle to make it even more attractive to the butterfly. Be sure that if you do add salt and water that you use a plastic liner or bucket, as salt can harm your plants.
• Add some variation to your garden by using some containers. Keep in mind that plants in containers may require more water during dry conditions.
• Don't use pesticides in your butterfly garden. Pesticides will be harmful to butterflies. Instead, use predatory insects and natural pesticides such as insecticidal soaps.