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Habitats for moths and butterflies
Butterfly66
Posts: 970
I’m trying to make my garden as wildlife friendly as possible. I can find lists of plants which are important for food and egg laying but no advice on how to create and look after them to be a successful habitat. For example if a weed is on the list do I need at allow it to go through its full lifecycle e.g set seed and die down naturally or is it ok to weed (some of) them out before they set seed or some/all when they go over?
im quite happy to keep weeds that are important for egg-laying etc but it would be frustrating if I was then doing something which cancelled out my efforts. I have a large nettle patch which we happily leave untouched but not sure what to do when these beneficial plants are mixed in my borders.
im quite happy to keep weeds that are important for egg-laying etc but it would be frustrating if I was then doing something which cancelled out my efforts. I have a large nettle patch which we happily leave untouched but not sure what to do when these beneficial plants are mixed in my borders.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”—Marcus Tullius Cicero
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
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@Grannybee have just had my first ragwort appear so will let that stay for the Cinnabars.
i have most of those @Fire and agree with leaving them alone. Luckily I love ox-eye daisies as they are quite a thug in our garden. My Oregano Rosenkuppel is smothered in bees at the moment 🙂
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
I’m allowing wild flowers/weeds to grow if they are specifically good for butterflies or moths - specifically for egg laying and caterpillar food. Although lots of our ornamentals are good as food sources many species still insist on specific plants or a much narrower range when it comes to their caterpillars.
East facing, top of a hill clay-loam, cultivated for centuries (7 years by me). Birmingham
In the sticks near Peterborough