New Pollinator Garden Project - Zone 5b Trial (Year 1 Lessons)

Hi Permies!

First-time poster, long-time lurker here. I’m starting a 300 sq ft pollinator garden in my Zone 5b backyard (southern Michigan clay soil) and wanted to share progress + pitfalls so far. My goal: low-maintenance blooms from April–October to support bees, swallowtails, and hummingbirds while improving soil health.

The Framework:
Soil Prep: Lasagna-layered cardboard + leaf mold + aged horse manure (no till).

Plant Choices:

Natives: Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Purple Coneflower, Anise Hyssop

Non-natives: Borage, Calendula (self-seeding workhorses)

Groundcover: Creeping Thyme between stones

Water: Swale-fed from roof runoff (diverted via repurposed gutter).

Surprises & Struggles:
Clay Soil Drainage:

Issue: Heavy spring rains drowned 30% of seedlings.

Fix: Added hugelkultur-inspired woodchip trenches around beds.

Deer Pressure:

Issue: Ate every sunflower sprout overnight 😤.

Experiment: Planting sacrificial clover patches at the perimeter (early results: 50% less browsing).

Volunteer Takeover:

Unexpected Win: Purslane (from "contaminated" compost) thrived as edible groundcover—added to salads!

Questions for the Hive Mind:
Companion Plants for deterring cucumber beetles? (Nasturtiums failed me this year.)

Overwintering Tips for anise hyssop in clay? Mulch vs. straw?

Wildlife Balance: How to attract more lacewings but fewer cabbage moths?

Welcome to permies, sounds like some good things going in your garden.  I'm guessing you're only in that location part of the time perhaps?  So it makes sense to choose things that will survive while you're away.