Winter is a good time to prepare for the monarch butterflies’ return

Milkweed seeds and pollinator gardens take time to grow, so plan now

The monarch butterflies have landed in their overwintering sites in Mexico but our mission to aid the monarch population is far from over. Even though the monarchs are taking a much-needed rest in the oyamel fir forests, there are still several ways you can help during the winter months.

You can start growing milkweed now

Milkweed seed requires cold stratification to germinate in the spring. Naturally, the best time to stratify the seed is in the winter. To do this, place milkweed seeds in a damp paper towel. Place the seeds and damp paper towel inside a baggie or other air-tight container. You will need to store the seeds in the refrigerator for four to six weeks before planting.

After four to six weeks, you can now plant your stratified milkweed seeds. Plant them in trays, peat pots or a container. Spread the seeds lightly on the top of the soil. You can push them down slightly into the soil. They’ll need light to germinate, so try not to bury them too deeply.

Be careful when watering the seeds because they are very delicate. A good way to get water to the seeds is by going from the bottom up. Add a half-inch of water to the bottom of the tray and place the container (it should have holes in the bottom for this to work) with your seeds inside the tray. A spray mister will also work well.

Finally, make sure you place the seeds next to a good amount of light. They need plenty of it to grow strong.

Do some research and plan your pollinator garden

Start by picking a location for your garden. When deciding where to plant your pollinator garden, find a stretch of land that gets at least six hours of sunlight a day. Milkweed needs a lot of sun, as do native nectar sources. It’s also important to pick a spot on your land that is not too windy. Butterflies don’t like wind, and neither do other pollinators.

After you pick a good garden location, it’s time to pick the milkweed and flowers you will plant. To see a comprehensive list of native milkweed species and native nectar species, visit www.MonarchMilkweedHabitat.com.

Try to pick three different kinds of milkweed, five native plants that flower in the spring, five that flower in the summer and five that flower in the fall. That way you’ll have a beautiful and beneficial garden from spring to fall.

With active preparation during the winter, your garden will be ready and able to host the monarchs as they make their way north this spring.

To learn more, please visit www.MonarchChallenge.com.

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