Plants to attract bugs..

Hi,

Given that I live in the UK would you have any recommendations of plants I could get to encourage a variety of bugs (and I would guess by extension birds) to my garden, its not particularly large so I would have to be pretty economical with space.

Cheers

Maybe take a look here. A lot of options but it might help

http://www.farmerfred.​com …_that_attract_b​enefi.html

I would say daisys, sweet alyssum, aster, marigold, bee balm, brown eyed susan

Thats wonderful, thank you

http://eartheasy.com/g​row_garden_insectary.h​tm
http://www.rspbliverpo​ol.org.uk/Helpgardenin​g.htm
http://karisgarden.co.​uk/?page_id=174

Thank you thats a great set

Hebe bush is more popular than buddleia in my little garden. You can't go wrong with heather for bees! In the wild Ragwort takes some beating but you probably wont want to grow that.

I have juts gone through the process, and with the links above have planted some stuff. The buddleia are not ready yet (no leaves) but the ones I planted with in flower (Aubretia, accent blue) seem to attract bees, hovers, wasp ants and bee fly. Not a bad collection for one plant.

The Scabios pink mist also was of interest to bees.

Splendid - off to the garden centre today - Aubrentia it is.

Oh, I did look up Ragwort, but after reading the poisonous bit I backed off a little having two small children, two cats and a dog! Hmn... good photos vs spending weeks at hospital... damn, better keep the kids alive

John_N wrote in post #14154611
Hi,

Given that I live in the UK would you have any recommendations of plants I could get to encourage a variety of bugs (and I would guess by extension birds) to my garden, its not particularly large so I would have to be pretty economical with space.

Choose plants that are native to your locality, or you could do the local wildlife more harm than good. And you'll attract more macro subjects with natives, too. Rule of thumb is that a non-native plant tends to have direct relationships with 2-10 other species (including fungi, etc.), but a native plant can have direct relationships with 50-100 other species.

I expect that the UK is chock full of native plant and entomological societies, and there's bound to be a group near you. In general a good percentage of plant people also like bugs and other wildlife, and many bug people know a lot about the native plants (bug food, after all!) They'll be able to tell you which plants will do well in your garden conditions, which would need a lot of care and which wouldn't (leaving you more time for photography), and likely which are the best at attracting various types of insects/birds. Your search engine of choice is your friend.

Check locally, but in general, deciduous plants usually attract more bugs (thus birds) than evergreens. Evergreens tend to keep their leaves for about 2 years, so it's worth their while to add plenty of pesticides and repellents. Deciduous plants can tolerate much more grazing. The leaves they drop, and any standing 'dead' stems, also contribute overwintering spots. (Don't be too tidy, or you'll accidentally clobber your subjects in their less noticeable stages.)

Depending on your agility, you might also want to plan to have at least some branches at comfortable tripod height

John_N wrote in post #14219028
Oh, I did look up Ragwort, but after reading the poisonous bit I backed off a little having two small children, two cats and a dog! Hmn... good photos vs spending weeks at hospital... damn, better keep the kids alive

It's really only poisonous when cut in hay and then to horses. Animals won't eat the growing plant.
Try small clumps of Phacelia sown consecutively, it's a magnet to bees. But if you are restricted to "nice" plants many of the herbs, oregano, thyme, borage and the small French lavenders all attract insects.

Thanks again guys - interesting stuff there

I'm not in the UK but in my garden the most productive plant concerning bugs i.e. macro subjects is my lemon tree, captured this the past weekend.

Cassiedup wrote in post #14242966
I'm not in the UK but in my garden the most productive plant concerning bugs i.e. macro subjects is my lemon tree, captured this the past weekend.

Great shot!

Awesome photo!

Id try a plant called a butterfly bush. Cant go wrong, they grow fast, and have tons of flowers. The one at my parents house is always loaded with bugs in the spring and summer.