How to Build a Backyard Butterfly Habitat

Roll out the welcome mat for butterflies.

Attracting butterflies to the backyard requires three things. First you must have a nectar source , then host plants for the butterflies to lay their eggs on and as a food source for the larvae. Finally you need sunny locations and landing areas where the butterflies can perch and sun themselves. The easiest way of attracting butterflies to the area is to create a natural habitat that uses native plants.The most important part of developing a butterfly habitat is keeping it a pesticide-free zone.

Things You'll Need

• Prepared garden space or raised bed, 8-by-8-feet
• 1 willow tree in 5-gallon container
• Shovel
• Compost
• Package of local native wildflower mix
• Flat of mixed annuals such as marigolds, and snapdragons
• 2 large planter boxes with trellis
• 2 8-inch pots of Japanese honeysuckle
• 1 4-inch container each of rosemary and mint
• Watering can or hose
• Flat stones
• Small container with moistened play sand

Instructions

1. Observe and note where the sun rises and sets on the backyard.

2. Dig a hole, in the wettest part of the backyard, twice the size of a 5 gallon container. Place willow tree in hole and fill in with soil. Tap soil down.

3. Prepare the soil for plantng, using existing garden space or a raised bed. Mix in aged compost.

4. Broadcast wildflower seed over bed and water in thoroughly.

5. Place the planter boxes with trellises on the sides of the prepared area.

6. Plant Japanese honeysuckle in front of each trellis. In the center of one planter plant rosemary and in the other plant peppermint. Fill in both planters with 12 plants each from the flat of annuals. Water in thoroughly

7. Place a few flat stones throughout backyard and a tray of moist sand.

Tips & Warnings

• Placing rotting fruit in a dish or compost heap will help attract butterflies.

• A bowl of moistened sand gives the butterflies the chance to get a drink and absorb some minerals.

• When possible always use native plants to the given area.

• While some of the plants listed are perennials seasonal change can be created by the annuals that are planted throughout the growing space.

References

• University of Kentucky Entomology: How To Make Butterfly Gardens
• Iowa State University Extension: Gardening for Butterflies
• University of Minnesota Extension: Creating a Butterfly Garden
• Colorado State University Extension: attracting Butterflies to the Garden
• National Wildlife Federation: Garden for Wildlife: Making Wildlife Habitat At Home: Attracting Butterflies