It's the time of year that most of us here in Montana have been waiting for all winter, the time to throw on our summer clothes and start gearing up for the warm weather. As we prepare for the beautiful Montana summer many people start making plans for gardening and landscaping. While deciding what plants to decorate the yard with or how to plan the garden here are some very important considerations.
Native Plants
Using native plants is essential to providing local pollinators with a healthy habitat. Bugs such as caterpillars, moths and bees are attracted to native plants as opposed invasive species. A native plant is any plant that is indigenous to the area, that was not introduced by humans. A diverse mixture of native trees, shrubs and flowers will attract birds, provide shelter from the wind and create a source of food and housing for native pollinators. Non-native species may not provide pollinators with enough nectar or pollen and can possibly be inedible to butterflys or moth caterpillars.
The Native Plant Landscaping in Southwest Montana Guide embedded below is an amazing resource for deciding the appropriate trees, shrubs and flowers for your yard. It has a clear list of information that addresses factors such as soil type, moisture, light exposure, life span of the plant, color of each flower and bloom time.
List of Pollinators
Here is a list of pollinators that promote a healthy habitat in your backyard.
- Birds - Hummingbirds, Blue Birds
- Butterflys - Monarch Butterfly, Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
- Caterpillars
- Moths - Hawk Moth, Yucca Moth
- Hornets
- Bees - Bumble Bee, Mason Bee, Alkali Bee, Leafcutter Bee, Sweat Bee, Honey Bee, Yellow-Faced Bee, Mining Bee, Cuckoo Bee, Digger Bee Polyester Bee
Plants to Avoid
The Montana Native Plants society created a list of plants to keep out of your yard. This list includes
- Wildflower Mixes
- Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata)
- Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis)
- Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
- Bachelor Buttons (Centaurea cyanus)
- Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
- Queen Ann’s lace (Daucus carota)
Landscaping
Embedded below is another fruitful resource to help determine what plants are right for your landscaping.
Happy Planting !
