![]() No matter where you decide to plant your garden, you’ll want to add nutrient-rich compost or soil to improve the success of your garden. If you’re planning on using raised beds or containers, there are a lot of pre-made options available, as well as simple designs to build your own. If you’re converting an existing lawn, you’ll need to remove grass and current plant cover and turn your soil to loosen it up. When you’re ready to start planting, you’ll need your seeds or plants along with essentials like gardening tools to break the soil as well as extra soil or compost and mulch. Image Details Purple prairie clover, purple coneflower and yellow coneflower in a native pollinator garden at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. ![]() Nursery-started plants cost more, but will generally give you a quick return on your investment and bring pollinators into your yard during the same growing season. If you’re using seeds, plan on dispersing them the fall or late winter ahead of your summer growing season. Seeds are more economical, especially for larger gardens, but will require more time. While both are good options, your choice will depend on your timeline and budget. Once you’ve identified your plant species, you’ll need to decide whether to use seeds or start with small plants. Choosing plants that bloom at different times will help you create a bright and colorful garden that both you and pollinators will love for months! Seeds vs. Pollinators need nectar early in the spring, throughout the summer and even into the fall. Remember to think about more than just the summer growing season. You’ll also want to focus on selecting perennials to ensure your plants come back each year and don’t require a lot of maintenance. It’s essential to choose plants that have not been treated with pesticides, insecticides or neonicotinoids. Find a nursery that specializes in native plants near you - they’ll be familiar with plants that are meant to thrive in your part of the country. Native plants are the ideal choice, because they require less maintenance and tend to be heartier. Research which varieties of milkweed and wildflowers are native to your area and do well in your soil and sunlight conditions. Your soil type and the amount of sunlight it gets will help determine the kinds of plants you can grow. Take a look at your soil - is it sandy and well-drained or more clay-like and wet? You can turn over a test patch or check out the soil mapper for your county to learn more. Butterflies and other pollinators like to bask in the sun and some of their favorite wildflowers grow best in full or partial sun with some protection from the wind. While flowering plants can grow in both shady and sunny locations, consider your audience. Follow these easy steps to make sure you have everything covered before you make your investment. Image Details A hummingbird clearwing moth visits a wild bergamot flower.Ĭareful planning is essential to creating a successful pollinator garden.
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