Homemade Butterfly Gardens

Look around your yard for a bright and sunny area that doesn't receive much wind. Butterflies typically enjoy basking in the sun, but don't like to be bothered by the breeze.

Dig a trench 1 or 2 inches deep around where you wish to place the garden. It should be long and narrow, allowing access to the plants without having to step inside the garden. Use a shovel to dig and remove any grass in that area. Insert rot-resistant wood, stone or brick into the trench for the garden border.

Pour garden soil inside the garden area. The depth of the soil depends on what plants you establish. A good rule of thumb is to have the soil at least 1 foot deep.

Plant vegetation into the ground based on its size. For instance, tall plants should sit in the back and those that are shorter should sit in the front. Doing so prevents the large plants from blocking the sun and keeping the smaller plants from soaking up rays. To install the plants, dig a hole about the same size as its root ball and insert the roots into the hole. Cover the roots with soil. Water the soil until it becomes soggy and whenever the soil looks dry.

Create small puddles of moist sand or mud in your garden for the butterflies to collect water. Butterflies cannot drink directly from open-water sources; rather, they absorb moisture from wet material. Place rocks and stones in the moistened area to provide places to perch.