A Wild Spaces guide to planters, pots and window boxes.
A Wild Space is any space improved to help butterflies and moths thrive, no matter how small.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a wildflower meadow or a window box, so long as it provides some or all of the 3 key things butterflies and moths need: nectar, caterpillar food plants and shelter.
This article provides a step-by-step guide to creating and looking after Wild Spaces of the smaller variety, such as planters, pots and window boxes.
These smaller types of spaces are like an oasis in the desert for butterflies and moths, particularly in towns and cities where greenspace can be limited.
Step 1: Choose your planter/pot/ box
In terms of pots and window boxes, the options are endless! Terracotta ones are popular as they look nice and allow the plant’s roots to breathe better than plastic or metal. However, they are more expensive and prone to smashing, so you might want to opt for plastic.
Make sure the pot/ box has a drainage hole and put a few pebbles or bits of broken pot in the bottom before planting.
Planters come in all different shapes and sizes, so choosing the right one for your space is important.
Wooden planters are the most popular, but metal ones are available too. If you go for a wooden one, ensure the wood has been treated with a natural preserver. This will help protect against rot and prolong its life.
Choosing a planter that comes with a lining and pre-drilled drainage holes will also make your life easier.
Step 2: Choose your plants
All of the plants recommended here are great for attracting butterflies and moths to pots and planters, provided they are placed in a sunny spot and watered regularly.
Whatever ones you go for, try to mix it up by using a range of plants that provide nectar at different times of the year – some that flower early in spring, some throughout the summer, and some into late summer. This information should be provided on plant labels or the backs of seed packets.
Step 3: Ensure you have enough compost
This is important to remember for bigger planters, as you’ll probably need more than you think!
Look in the description for the planter’s volume to check how much compost you’ll need.
We recommend using peat-free compost as it is much better for the environment and widely available at supermarkets and garden centres.
Step 4: Plant it up!
If you’ve bought plants in little plastic pots, use a trowel to dig a hole deep enough so that when covered with soil, the plants roots will be fully buried (if you haven’t got a trowel, just use a big spoon!).
Then, turn the pot upside down, tap the bottom and wiggle the plant out. Put it in the middle of the hole, and fill all around it with compost.
Lastly, lightly press around the base of the plant to make sure it is securely in.
If you’re planting seeds, poke the seed down a couple of centimetres and lightly cover the hole with compost.
Bulbs need to be planted roughly ten centimetres deep, with their ‘nose’ or shoot facing upwards.
In larger planters, try to plant in clumps of the same species and allow a good few inches between each so they have room to grow.
Whatever you’ve planted, make sure to give it a good water once it’s in!
Final step: sit back, enjoy your work, and wait for the butterflies and moths to come!
