How to Plant Butterflies and Hummingbirds in Your Spring Garden

Butterflies and Hummingbirds love colorful flowers and planting a mix of wildflowers in a garden bed or rock garden is the perfect way to attract these delightful spring beauties to your garden. I did this, and now my granddaughter tells everyone we planted butterflies and hummingbirds – she can’t wait for them to grow! Following are simple instructions to add color, butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden Space or Rock Garden
• Wildflower seeds
• Water
• Rake
• Hose

1. Choose Wildflower Seeds
   Your local home improvement store will have an abundance of wildflower seeds this spring. Pick out packets of individual types or find a mix of wildflower seeds to plant. Ferry-Morse makes a shaker bag of wildflower seeds designed just to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, but you can use any mix of colorful wildflower seeds.

2. Prepare the Soil
   If you live in a northern climate, wait until the soil temperature is above 60◦ F (15◦ C). The soil does not require a lot of preparation. Start by digging in to the soil at least three inches, then rake it smooth, removing any debris and rocks. Be sure to pull any weeds. If you are planting in a rock garden, make sure any weeds are pulled from between the rocks, then lightly spread potting soil or other dirt over the entire area to be planted. With the hose, wash the dirt off the rocks so it falls between them. This is where the wildflower seeds will be planted.

3. Plant the Seeds
   Sprinkle the wildflower seeds over the prepared soil, either by using a shaker bag or a seed spreader. Make sure they are fairly evenly distributed. In the rock garden, spread the seeds over the dry rocks, they will fall off into the soil you added previously. Rake the garden area lightly to cover the seeds with about a quarter inch of soil. (The seeds in the rock garden do not need to be covered, the rocks will provide protection for them.)

4. Water the Seeds
   Watering the seeds is important, be sure to water at least once a day with a fine mist or spray. Water either in the morning or evening to prevent evaporation. It will take 10 days to two weeks for the seeds to sprout. Once the new plants have gotten their second set of leaves, reduce watering to once a week.

5. Enjoy the Hummingbirds and Butterflies
   As the plants start to bloom, their colors will attract the hummingbirds and butterflies. You can sit on the patio or porch on a nice, Spring evening and enjoy your wildflowers as much as the hummingbirds and butterflies do.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to water lightly every day until the new sprouts get their second set of leaves.
• Use fertilizer designed for flowering plants to increase the blooms.
• Do not overwater! You will drown the seedlings.

Resources

• eHow Spring Guide
• Ferry-Morse Seed Company

[jull14]

on 6/15/2009 Wonderful article. I love to read article that can help me grow as a person. This article is very easy to follow and very informative, thanks

[gahazeleyes]

on 5/4/2009 Wonderful article. Thanks for sharing.

[chrissyjohnson]

on 4/3/2009 Beautiful topic! 5* rec

[veryirie]

on 4/2/2009 Good tips to attract butterflies and hummingbirds with your planting. Excellent!

[stjohnswood]

on 3/31/2009 Thanks for the ideas. I could watch hummingbirds all day.