Roses and butterflies

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Q: I have a butterfly garden, I want to plant roses in a section. Is lavender compatible in a butterfly garden? Will this combination work?

A butterfly garden sounds like a lovely idea, and lavender would be a welcome plant for your butterfly visitors.

Lavender and roses like the same conditions: plenty of sun and a bit of lime added to the soil. Roses need more fertilizer than lavender; scatter a bit of organic fertilizer around the roses, but skip the lavender.

Provide a few flat rocks in the sun for the butterflies to rest and warm up on, and don’t use any pesticides in your garden to keep it safe for wildlife.

Best luck.