Kazz! Advice please!!

[alexgirl73]

I'm a great believer in making my garden as wildlife friendly as possible, can you give me some advice on what are the best plants to encourage butterflies etc! Nothing too expensive unfortunately as I can only buy one or two at a time. At the moment the plants I have are; bellis, french marigolds, crysanthemems, heather, lavender 2 I don't know the name of , hydrangea (sp), roses, hebes (sp) and my dahlias are shooting as we speak! I have no idea if any of them are wildlife friendly (apart from slugs of course ), so any ideas for me?

[Kazz]

Everyone should be able to help with thisbut I suggest;
of the top of my head
Tree's such as Hawthorn, Cherry, Crab Apple, but any tree's will do and attrat birds.
Firethorn and Honeysuckles are good but remember firethorn You know the bushes that have the red ororange or yellow berries have reall sharp thorns (be careful for the children)

A source of water even a little dish.

Spring and Summer flowers will always attract bee's and birds and insects - ones such as Lavender (which you already have)Heathers (you have) roses (you have) are really good, the other will do so too. But you could add - Buddelia (butterfly bush) I have a couple of these I propogated for a friend who no longer wants them so you ar welcome to them if you want. You need to cut them down almost to the ground every early Spring like Feb/march and they throw out some lovely flowers that as thier name suggests attract butterflies and bee's.
Seddum is great too I have a fair ammount of this just coming up so I can get you dig some of this up is you wish? Its a lovely Autumn flower, Sunflowers get the seeds adn get the children to plant them then leave the heads on as they turn to seed birds adore them the children can race to see who's grow the highest. Poppies got some of these too if you want?
Daisy's any sort, I find attract the bee's and butterflies I think its the open face. But not sure. Coneflowers, Phlox. Those should be a good start.


Edited to say Hebe's of all sorts are excellent too you have those too.
Karen

[alexgirl73]

You're a star Kazz!! I love the idea of the butterfly bush, sounds lovely! I've never heard of seddum (will go off and google it lol).Sunflowers I can do, well the kids can anyway!
Thanks for those suggestions. off down the garden centre again tomorrow I think!

[Kazz]

Don't go the garden centre have you not got a small fruit and veg shop around by you that sells plants....should be much cheaper.

[alexgirl73]

I can't think of anywhere off hand! Mind you I've been getting most of my plants from places like poundland and aldi anyway lol! The only ones I've bought from a garden centre were the 'mums and the heathers, and they only cost just over a fiver!

[dandysmom]

Alex, two other plants that attract butterflies are Monarda ...they have lovely scarlet and pink flowers and are also good as cut flowers, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), a brilliant orange, and any plants in the mint family. And dill attracts bees!

[alexgirl73]

I will have a look for them too, thanks Eileen. I don't have any dill in the garden yet, but I do have some rosemary!

[dandysmom]

If you get really ambitious, you can let the dill go to seed, and use them to make your own dill pickles! (If you can find tiny cucumbers!) I admit I've never tried this..

[alexgirl73]

nope don't like dill pickles lol! But I do fancy having a herb garden, but i think my veggie patch and herbs will be next years profect.

[dandysmom]

Originally Posted by alexgirl73

nope don't like dill pickles lol! But I do fancy having a herb garden, but i think my veggie patch and herbs will be next years profect.

Funny how tastes differ, don't they? I cannot imagine a grilled cheese sandwich without dill pickles on the side! But don't like sweet pickles! I don't have many herbs: rosemary, thyme, oregano and of course basil. And catnip for Herself!