Butterflies dancing gracefully in the garden is a delightful sight, and these insects also play a crucial role in plant reproduction and growth by aiding in pollination. So, is there a way to attract butterflies to your own garden and make them stay there?
According to a report from the British newspaper “Daily Express,” Chris Bonnett, the founder of the gardening company Gardening Express, pointed out that butterflies do more than just add beauty to outdoor spaces. They play an important role in pollinating flowers, fruits, and vegetables, as well as maintaining a broader food chain.
“Everyone enjoys seeing butterflies fluttering among the flowers. They not only add color and vitality to the garden but are also very beneficial to plants,” he said.
He shared several methods for attracting butterflies to the garden:
Butterflies feed on nectar, so it is essential to plant nectar-rich flowering plants in the garden, which is also the simplest way to attract butterflies. Flowers such as lavender, butterfly bush, cornflower, and daisy provide a reliable food source for butterflies throughout the summer.
In addition, plants like verbena, red valerian, primrose, foxglove, and trefoil can also attract butterflies, but the Woodland Trust Foundation in the UK advises against planting buddleia. Although it is a favorite plant of butterflies, it can be invasive and quickly overtake other native plants.
Chemical insecticides can harm butterflies and other beneficial insects, so it is recommended to choose more natural alternatives. Encouraging predators like birds and ladybugs to enter the garden is an effective way to control pests.
Butterflies rely on the warmth of the sun for flight and foraging. Ensure that your flowering plants are placed in sunny, shaded areas in the garden to provide resting spots for butterflies.
Wildflowers, tall grasses, and even some nettles can provide food and shelter for butterflies, so consider leaving a small area in the garden where they can naturally grow.
Bonnett said, “Attracting them to your garden doesn’t require much time. Just plant some nectar-rich flowers in sunny spots, avoid using insecticides, and keep some wild corners, and you can help these important pollinating insects.”
If you have fruit trees in your garden, leaving some fallen fruits under the trees can provide an additional food source for butterflies, as they feed on the juice of rotting fruits, especially towards the end of summer.
You can also place ripe fruits in warm, sunny spots. Mushy bananas are particularly popular – butterflies enjoy their sweet and sticky texture.
In addition to the above methods, you can also make a butterfly feeder to provide them with extra treats to replenish their energy. This is especially beneficial in autumn when many plants stop flowering, making nectar harder to come by.
Start by adding a quarter cup of sugar to two cups of water, heat in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool for at least 30 minutes. Next, dip a bright piece of cloth into the sugar water and place it near some flowers.