What can I plant...

My butterflies always go straight for the buddleia but there are smaller plants which many books recommend to attract butterflies.

Lavender is excellent for butterflies and insects, thyme is also a low growing pretty herb which is recommended. Herbs like sunny, well drained spots. Ice plant (sedum spectabile) and Michaelmas daisies are both useful late flowering plants. You could just sprinkle seed of various annuals to make a colourful display. Poppies, Night scented stock, candytuft (there are both annuals and perennials) etc.

You may find this link useful:

http://www.overthegardengate.co.uk/wildlife/butgard.asp

Jane

Good luck with all the gardening Kat,some sedums about 25cm tall really good for bees etc,I will try and look up something about them and come back to it in a day or two. 

what about some companion planting?

Apple Trees
Chives can help your tree from forming apple scab. Nasturtium repels codling moth. Foxglove is said to help protect your tree from disease, and to help your apples last longer once they're picked. Other good companion plants for your apple tree are onion, garlic, sweet woodruff and wallflower.

i found this which might be useful - i love planting a few nasturtiums as they are bright and attract bees etc and also are edible - pretty in a salad or an ice cube (part of flower)

Izzy

KatTai said:

I'm going to get some larger tubs for my apple trees (IF they have survived my complete lack of care over the winter, but they survived the same treatment last year) as they need repotting and as I'm planning on those big barrel type things I would like to plant something to grow around them.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would be suitable?  Must be good for wildlife and look pretty or attract pretty things like butterflies :-)

Hi KatTai

Although Buddleia is a butterfly magnet, it is quite an intrusive plant and probably isn't suitable for planting in a tub as a companion plant around an apple tree.

You might be able to get a lower growing Buddleia hybrid though that might work.

Lavender sounds good, and can also get a bit out of hand, so you could plant it in small pots around the apple trees in your barrels. Rosemary could be used in a similar way, and you could use that in your kitchen as well.

Low growing Hebe's might work although I'm not sure if they attract butterflies. They look pretty though.

If its round trees in a pot, then I would go for something shallow rooted. So as not to suck up to many of the nutrients or to fight for space in the pot. So I reckon  the suggestion of thyme would be great, not nec to attract butterflies but the bees will love it. Unfortunately not flowering at the same time as the apples but great all the same, lots of dff types, colours, forms to choose from. Alba has a lovely white flower + growing in a pot will mean you enjoy the scent even closer to your nose!!

Hi Kat,

i'd agree - the sedums are adored by all insects as they tend to flower late in the season, plus, if you are okay about leaving seed heads, the big ones can make really impressive architectural statements till the following spring - mine are still looking fab, though the little ones look a bit worse for wear (probably being regularly run over by my dogs doesn't help)

Send some pictures when it's all planted up, I'm sure whatever you choose, it will look lovely,

DM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!  I'dd take a look a Sedum - would rockery plants be a good option?  I'd assume that they won't take up too many nutrients and have shallow roots.  Lavender and buddleia are both out, they're both too big and I suspect rosemary would too (my trees are only about 3 foot tall lol)  Chives sound like a good option too!

Hi Kat,

the possible drawback with rockery plants is that many of them love and need really good drainage (stoney or sandy that drains really well), which may not suit the apple trees. One that might work is aubretia, that would cascade over and down the side of the tub, and is apparently very popular with butterflies.

hopre that helps,

DM

Thanks DM!  That's are very beautiful plant!  I might see if I can get some of those that would suit the pots :-)

Kat