Milwaukee WI is known for being the largest city in the state, the brewing capital of the world, and the home of Harley Davidson. Among its many other attractions are the annual Milwaukee Summerfest, billed as the World’s Largest Music Festival, and sports such as the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks. Miles of beaches and parks align its Lake Michigan shores.
The climate includes clearly having all four seasons, with Milwaukee receiving more precipitation than the national average. The area receives about 45 inches of measurable snow each year, while the national average is 28 inches. When it comes to landscaping, the Milwaukee WI region is known for a lot of “prairie plants”. These provide a variety of colors, while many attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
For example, the Rattlesnake Master attracts insects which are beneficial to a garden, while the Butterfly Weed attracts monarchs. The Cream False Indigo is popular among bumblebees, while the Ohio Goldenrod is another favorite among pollinators. Purple Coneflower attracts butterflies. When it comes to colors, the Prairie Blazing Star blooms in lavender, the Little Bluestem sporting a blazing red color, and the Wild Quinine is known to bloom longer than most others in this category.
If you are looking for “pollinator friendly” plants, there are several more species to consider. These include the Canada Goldenrod, Woodland Sunflower (a taller native perennial), New England Aster (late bloomer), Jewelweed (attracts hummingbirds), Virginia Creeper (food source for birds), Common Milkweed (butterflies), and Common Elderberry (food source for birds).
Several trees, which are native to Wisconsin, are good choices for yard areas in the Milwaukee region. These include the Crabapple, Chinese Dogwood, Northern Red Oak, Japanese Lilac, Concolor Fir, and Serviceberry. Of these choices, the Ginkgo is especially popular in busy urban areas, providing ample shade. It is also known for its resistance to drought, insects and diseases. The same goes for the Chinese Dogwood, which brings year-round color but grows more slowly. Sugar Maple trees are the state tree for Wisconsin. While known as an excellent shade tree, some of them eventually provide maple syrup. The Serviceberry is considered either a small tree or a large shrub, adjusting throughout the year from yellow during the Spring and Summer to red foliage in the Fall. The Milwaukee County region is USDA hardiness zone 5b.
Summer vegetables can do well in this region, especially when seeds are planted directly into the ground in late April. (If the soil is still below 60 degrees, you probably should wait until it warms up.) Choices include watermelon, cucumbers, cowpeas, corn, squash, beans, and pumpkins. Crops such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and peas, should also be planted during the month of April.
For starting a garden, late Summer to Early Fall is the ideal time, starting with placing organic matter (compost or manure). Those are geared toward improving the soil quality and nutrient levels, which typically happens during the Winter months.
When planning to start or revitalize a yard or garden, it is best to perform thorough research and create a specific plan to follow.
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