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?
