The easiest ways to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Pollinators add another layer of pretty to your outdoor space, but you first need to know how to attract them.

Jeff Wallitsch, of Wallitsch Gardens, said now is a great time to get started because June is pollinator month.

Milkweed, which has many varieties, is a very popular plant for pollinators, especially butterflies.

“It’s going to be your food source for your butterflies and then your food source for the caterpillars to create the monarch butterflies,” Wallitsch said.

However, he said to keep in mind that some milkweed can spread and get very large.

“You want to make sure when you're selecting the plant to either get a native cultivar, which is something a little more controlled, or if you do want to get the native plants, you can either do it in a container so you’re containing it more in the space so it's not going everywhere in your yard,” he said.

Other popular pollinator plants include the Coneflower, Rudbeckia and Yarrow.

“Anything really that has a good flat bloom to it a lot of your butterflies are going to go to. And it’s important. Pollinators are what provide us food, provides us flowers,” said Wallitsch.

When thinking about what to include in your pollinator garden — you want plants that will bloom throughout the summer, and not all at the same time.

“That way your pollinators have something all summer and fall long,” Wallitsch said.

For hummingbirds you can mix in some annuals, especially Lantana.

“That way you're always going to constantly have something where your hummingbirds can go to, your birds, your bees, your butterflies and so on.”

Finally, if you're using any type of insect repellent on these plants, make sure it's natural and organic like neem oil so you don’t kill the pollinators. But the best option is to use beneficial insects like ladybugs to eat the harmful insects.

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