Hey everyone! I'm new to gardening and want to create a small raised flower bed in Missouri (Zone 6) to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. I've been feeding hummers for a few years now and think planting native flowers would be a great next step. Since I have zero experience with keeping plants alive, I would love any recommendations or resources for absolute beginners. What should I do to get started?
2 Answers
I totally get where you're coming from! First off, you can find some affordable metal raised beds on Amazon—I've seen them for around $120 CAD for two. You can fill those up with good quality garden bed soil. After that, grab some wildflower seeds, making sure they're native to your area and non-invasive. Just follow the planting instructions on the package; it really is that simple! I'm actually starting one myself this year to help attract pollinators for my vegetable garden too!
It's great that you're diving into gardening! Since you mentioned you're in Missouri, knowing your exact location really helps determine what plants will thrive in your raised bed. Also, how much sunlight your bed gets is super important. You can check out r/NativePlantGardening for tons of useful links on local plants and advice. Just remember, since you mentioned you have a lot of sunlight, you're in a good position to grow sun-loving flowers!
Thanks for the info! I have a yard with no trees, so it gets full sun all day. Sounds like I'm on the right track!
That's awesome! Just to clarify, when would be the best time to plant those wildflowers? I'm a bit confused about when to get started.