Fall Butterfly Garden Tips
The fall months are finally here, it is so amazing how time flies and before we can blink an eye winter will be here also with its chilly freezing months.
As the cold weather approaches butterflies like other wildlife will be looking for a place to overwinter because this is very crucial during this time of the year to ensure their survival.
Some places these garden beauties over winter include the soil or leaf litter at the pupa or larva stage, as adults hiding in tree bark, man-made structures, or the crevices of rocks.
To help butterflies prepare for this time of the year (fall) here are some helpful tips that have proven to be beneficial.
Constructing a Butterfly Habitat
Limite your fall garden cleanup
Limiting your fall garden cleanup is a great way to encourage the presence of butterflies. The larva and pupa stage of butterflies loves to overwinter in leaf litter, so limit the amount of life litter to be removed or what you can do is designate a part of your garden that’s out of view to add leaf litter this way you can still have your fall cleanup while providing a natural habitat for butterflies.
Fruits
A great food source for butterflies is fruits, when removing fallen fruits allow some to remain for butterflies to enjoy. Some fruits can also remain on the trees this act will help butterflies to prepare as the harsh winter months approaches.
Grow plants that flowers in the fall
Another great way to assist is by growing flowers that blossoms in the fall, below are a few of many fall flowering plants.
Rock piles
One of the things that we look at from the start is that butterflies love the crevices of rocks, so if your garden has a rock pile this is a great place to overwinter butterflies or you can add a rock pile to your garden for this purpose.
Avoid insecticides
The use of insecticides during fall cleanup can have a negative impact on butterfly so avoid using because remember the goal is in helping to preserve them.
Growing plants in groups
When installing plants in your fall garden install in groups, this method will help your butterflies take advantage of their food source.
Plants too install in your fall garden for butterflies
The final word on fall butterfly garden tips
The winter months can be pretty harsh as wildlife seeks refuge to overwinter, let’s give them a hand as we turn our backyard gardens into a natural habitat so butterflies can have a place to rest as they prepare for the coming spring filling our gardens with much activity as we give a helping hand in assisting the next generation bringing balance to our ecosystem.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I love butterflies a lot and I have been thinking that it would be nice to have a garden full with those beautiful creatures. I heard there are butterfly parks too. Is that still a thing too? Your tips are really great and I’ll like to make the garden just in my backyard.
Having butterflies is great as you watch them in their natural habitat. This is the first time that I have heard of a butterfly park but I have heard about gardens. But this is something I must look into. All the best to you and have a good day.
Great article on helping butterflies cope with fall and winter season. I think it is wise to preserve a part of your garden for butterflies refuge because during the spring season they will help with pollination in your garden. The article also discuss about using less insecticide or no insecticides in the garden, which I think is a good idea but what are some alternatives for insecticides if the insect population increases and gets out of control?
Thanks so much for your kind words, protecting butterflies is so important because not only well we be bringing balance to our ecosystem but we will be persevering the next generation all by having them around as pollinators. Try using homemade remedies, or organic pesticides.
https://gardenofedengardencent…
We have a very small garden, it was a yard where my grandma had chickens and a small shed to stack wood. We converted it into a beautiful miniature garden with some conifers, bushes, and flowers and it’s quite maintenance-free but I’m always looking for tips on how to improve it. Now in fall, nothing is blossoming there so I think I should plant some blossoming plants there like asters. Is it good to do that now in October or should I wait till spring?
It is so good to hear that you are involved in gardening, how great it is to spend time in the great out doors. Now as for your question. The best time to plant asters is mid-late spring,hope this helps and happy gardening.
Hey Norman; Butterflies are beautiful creatures, I believe that everyone at one time or some others want to see these pretty painted butterflies flying about the garden space and otherwise.
It is a great idea to secure habitat for them during the winter months when they need some help for their survival I believe they lay their eggs on the back of leaves during the fall as the adults are likely to die during the winter months.
Those eggs would hatch in early spring and the butterfly family shows up with spring. There are some flowering plants that are a natural habitat for some species of butterfly as also some garden flowers.
DorcasW
You are right also, you seem to know a lot about the care of butteflies also so lets do what we can to help them. Thanks so much for sharing.