How to Plant a Pollinator Garden | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook heads to Texas to plant a garden that attracts butterflies and other pollinators. (See below for a shopping list, tools, and steps.)
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Shopping List for How to Plant a Pollinator Garden:
- Pollinator plants
- Organic compost
- Mulch
- Water-feature vessel
- Trellis
- Pedestals for water-feature vessel
- Goldfish
Tools for How to Plant a Pollinator Garden:
- Pitchfork, for mixing in compost
- Shovel, for digging planting holes
- Trowel, for digging small planting holes
- Rake, for spreading mulch
Steps for How to Plant a Pollinator Garden:
1. Prepare the area for the garden by tilling the soil [not shown].
2. Put down a coating of compost over your entire garden area and mix it in with soil using a pitchfork.
3. Dig holes for your plants using a shovel. Keep the depth an inch shallower than the height of the root ball.
4. Remove the plants from their nursery containers. If the roots are visible, loosen the roots and soil with a cultivator. Place the plants into the holes and cover with soil.
5. For climbing plants, attach the vines to the trellis to give them room to climb.
6. Put down 2 inches of mulch. Use a rake to spread the mulch around the plants, but don’t cover the stems.
7. Fill the water-feature vessel with water, put in the pedestals and place water plants on top of the pedestals.
8. Put the goldfish in the water. They will eat any mosquito larvae.
9. Give plants a thorough watering all around the garden.
10. Continue to water the entire garden twice a week.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Plant a Pollinator Garden | Ask This Old House
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[@Hayley-sl9lm]

Randy is a plant hero, rescuing Texas natives from being destroyed by construction! Rock on dude 💪😎 🌳🌻👍

[@JaredCzaia]

"This caterpillar's fixin' to pupate"

[@christinalynn8143]

Something about TOH episodes that seems so 'old' but still it has a 'timeless quality/component. A fun show.

[@JBtheExplorer]

Pollinator gardens are nice, but 100% Native gardens are the way to go. I began one last year and I wouldn't trade it for any other kind of garden. Not only is it filled with bright, showy plants, but knowing how much it helps native wildlife makes it rewarding beyond belief. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone.

[@leetravathan]

I love the passion vines and have grown them off and on for years. However, the past 2 years when the Monarchs come through, they completely eat up the entire vine(s) and leave me with nothing. I don't want to spray. Anyone have some tips on still helping them thrive but not completely destroy the plants?

[@innerstrg1]

@@leetravathan That's the whole idea!

[@brianc4632]

Lee Travathan Unfortunately, that’s just how nature is. You could plant one area of passion vines for the monarchs to enjoy as a sanctuary/buffer patch while having another area just for yourself. Sadly, you’ll have to control that patch either through chemical means or by physically removing the monarchs. Not sure if there’s a plant that can repel monarchs, so maybe you’ll have to look into that. Or find a way to introduce a natural predator of monarchs.

[@lepidlover0557]

@@leetravathan Monarchs don't eat passionvine, they eat milkweed. I think the butterfly you are referring to are Gulf Fritillary Butterflies

[@leetravathan]

@@lepidlover0557 I just looked them up and it could be that one. Looks a lot alike.

[@RaeFaeM]

This is perfect!!! I am in the process of trying to buy a home with 1/2 acre backyard. I was already planning to add pollinator garden, water features, catio, an etc for nature paradise. TYVM!!! 💜💛💚🌿🦎🐊🐢🐾

[@dwaynesbadchemicals]

Just dig a hole and put the plants in. I like this guy.

[@natashasemrau3670]

I was trying to tell someone to put this kind of garden next to their bridge on their farm! Now l remember what to tell them about and what to look for! Thanks!🌹🌸🌹🌸🌹🍀🍀😸

[@lisarobinson266]

Most bees are ground nesters,; using mulch keeps them from nesting. Adding some open ground helps native bees more.

[@CyberFenix000]

I also live in texas and I have many of the same plants!

[@randyjones3739]

Break'n down us some stereotyping! Here's a "Men Only" confab to design a pollinator garden to attract cool insects and birds. That guy Randy knows his shit! This is what I'm talk'n about!

[@Paios]

I like the space ship that landed in the background audio at 1:45

[@gangisspawn1]

Butterfly bushes are the MVP of pollinator plants.

[@rawbacon]

I thought that woman was pretty rugged the way she was going at it with the pitchfork, then I realized Jamie is a guy.

[@LynkinPark]

hahaha ouch

[@lepidlover0557]

Lmao

[@mattiemadison1234]

I thought the same!

[@lucky1206]

I was thinking that woman had a flat chest lol

[@aclark329]

Straight-up John Redcorn. :)

[@spanxellis5802]

Who is this guy and how can I hire him to come design my backyard?

[@LaurenBradburyFarm]

His name is Randy Johnson and he has a company for doing consultations in DFW. Google 'Randy Johnson Organics.'

[@txkittykat1486]

Not only does he create designs with natives, he grows a ton of unique native plants (from see or propagation) in his nursery. He's amazing.

[@Dabket3araB]

I just realized the Bahston accent is way better and smoother on the ear than the heavy Texas accent.

[@mattiemadison1234]

I like the Texas accent.

[@hollylaughter8722]

Looks great! Can you come to zone 4 at the northern end of the monarch range.

[@Frygonz]

Kind of skeptical about putting gold fish in the water feature. Guess you would just have to remember to add stabilizer when you're refilling from evaporation.

[@jaykneegarner2479]

Joseph Fry their expert is a blessing idiot when it come to fish! No water circulation, no filtration ( evidenced by the very green water) that tank will heat up quickly and any fish will be suffocated when the dissolved oxygen level drops dramatically. That is if the ammonia burn doesn’t kill them first. The plants may help some but not enough. With this setup the homeowner would be better off with a couple of mosquito dunks. Goldfish are abused enough as it is! This comes from a longtime goldfish owner! My oldest being 12+ years old! They are a lot more work than people realize and do not belong in a small tank! They are pond fish and unless you are ready to commit to a 100+gallon tank please don’t buy them!

[@leviathonmonster]

I wouldn't recommend goldfish for an unfiltered body of water, they eat too much and produce too much waste. Try guppies instead.

[@は私です彼の名前]

Sea Sparkle but they have lots of mosquito larvae to feed on and the fish poop then fertilizes the plants. It's all good.

[@lepidlover0557]

Probably just 2 shubunkin goldfish would do

[@KnightofAntiquity]

The horse trough is a no go in Florida lol

[@charlesbale8376]

Great tips and suggestions.

[@RicardoJunqueira]

Pretty cool garden.

[@GalaXy808]

nice work,thanks fir the idea

[@Hammondbrass]

That guys with the pony tail sounds like Sam Elliott.

[@JesusTheSatanist]

baaack yeaaaad

[@ericwar8492]

Is there a way to put a filter on that water container with plants?

[@は私です彼の名前]

Eric War you could, but you don't need to. Those plants actually filter and oxygenate the water naturally

[@honeygarden4128]

Please add further month movements

[@MRrwmac]

Nice butterfly garden. But what was the cactus for?

[@SmoothChino]

MRrwmac it's part of nature bitch

[@foodfood5446]

Who's home is it again? All 3 guys seem to b experts n doing the talk :P

[@Lugenfabrik]

Somehow I knew eventually this earthchild landscape dude was going to put in "medicinal" plants.

[@は私です彼の名前]

Lugenfabrik I want this yard. So much inspiration here!!

[@shinji242]

I-beams and hooks?

[@johnames6430]

I suspect the funny boy is from portland? he would fit in well there

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

No thanks we've hit our funny boys quota

[@lucky1206]

It blew me away when I heard the blond talk when I thought it was a woman once I heard a guys voice lol

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

Hey Hanson brothers need gardens too 🤷

[@johnmilner3030]

beware, it's BOB from twin peaks!

[@geeker211]

Where did you get the Frostweed plant? I can't find them anywhere :(

[@venividivici4253]

JerseyGirl211 online?

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

Randy has a native plant nursery I think? Randy Johnson Organics

[@later_daze_4080]

I'd plant weed right along that fence line.

[@Moonpiebye]

💜😎

[@GalaXy808]

can you tell what's the names of this plants please

[@thespinoffpodcast]

and a polligator garden is...???

[@Enough.Said.]

Have you ever seen a hippie cowboy?

[@は私です彼の名前]

K.M. well I just did.

[@Keepingitreal0]

This guy sounds like George W. Bush.

[@cindia6697]

death trap for pollen allergens (sniff sniff)

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

Actually most flowering plants that need pollinating by insects have heavier pollen that doesn't become airborne and cause allergies. It's the wind-pollinated plants that have lighter pollen which are the culprits usually, certain types of trees in early spring and grass blooming later in the spring.

[@jbn70]

Oh yeah and you have to be a

[@NoOneHere2Day]

gay 4:51

[@natashasemrau3670]

What is going on here? Naughty boys!!!!!🌵🌵🌵🐍🐸🐌🐠

[@porkchop1343]

Yup gay as hell.

[@JoseMendoza-hv9fe]

On behalf of Texas. That guy does not represent us.

[@lepidlover0557]

???