This article was contributed by guest blogger Bob Gorman
When it comes to wildlife-friendly habitats, people usually associate them with the countryside. But the fact is that our gardens are as good a place as any to create a safe haven for birds, insects, mammals, etc. Don’t make a mistake of thinking that your garden is too small to become wildlife-friendly. It is not about growing a large wild jungle. It’s about applying some simple steps and techniques that will help you achieve this result, no matter if you need to maintain an already established garden or create a new one.
So let’s take a look at some of these steps that will make your garden feel like home to all your animal cohabitants.
The Plant Selection
This is the first and most important step. As we’ve said, the point is not to fill up your garden with random lush greenery. You need to be mindful of the selection of plants you choose as some can actually be harmful to the animals inhabiting your garden. Fortunately, there are also a number of varieties that are safe for your little furry friends and should be considered.
Edible shrubs and fruit trees are mandatory. Fill your shrub layer with redcurrant, gooseberry, and blackberry plants and you’ll provide food for pollinators such as hoverflies, bees, and butterflies. When it comes to fruit-bearing sorts, apple trees will not only produce food for you, but also the necessary flower bloom for the pollinators. One or two is enough, and you will need to plant them in the autumn.
Wildflowers are equally important since you need to pack your garden with diversity that will flower at the right time of year for the various insects. Stay away from standard varieties that have lots of petals since they’ll make it harder for bees to approach and that will grow at the expense of the pollen and nectar. Here you have a lot of flower species to choose from: nasturtiums, marigolds, calendulas, asters, cornflowers, etc. You can even convert a part of your lawn into a wildflower meadow or you can simply plant them in window boxes or containers.
A Source of Fresh Water
You need to provide the animals with a stable source of unchlorinated, fresh water. Burying a stone basin or a shallow bucket will do the job, but digging a proper pond will make it just perfect. You don’t want the pond to go stagnant, so build it in a spot that is partly shaded. You should use a water butt since it needs to be filled with rainwater. You also need to keep it oxygenated, which you’ll accomplish by growing water lilies in it. And remember to put in some branches and stones so animals such as frogs can have easy access in and out of it.
Native Hedge Instead of Fences
While fences will prevent access for some creatures to your garden, even the small native hedges will benefit the wildlife greatly as they’ll provide rich nutrition for small mammals, insects, and a great variety of birds. The perfect time to plant bare-root hedging is in the autumn.
In case you decide you do need a fence, don’t forget to make holes along the bottom so animals such as frogs and hedgehogs can easily pass through. And you can turn your fence into a protective habitat for wildlife creatures with climber plants and ivy. Since ivy is an evergreen it will create a protective habitat all year round and its seeds and flowers are not only nutritious but also a great source of pollen. Roses, clematis, and figs are also good for attracting birds and bees at varying heights.
Let Them Check In
A safe haven for wildlife creatures doesn’t lie only in creating a green oasis. In some cases, you also need to build their shelters. For example, if you make a bird box, it will need to be placed in a sheltered location so it will be out of reach of predators. Place seeds inside in the winter and protein-rich feed like fat balls in the spring, since that’s the time of year when the birds are feeding their young. Make sure to place the feeder near dense bushes such as rambling rose or hydrangea so smaller birds can dart in and out without the risk of cat attacks. You need to keep the bird box clean from mites, so clean and inspect it once a year.
Bugs and insects also need hotels where they can check-in. Building a proper one can be a fun activity for the whole family, but you can also improvise. All you need to do is to find a quiet spot where you’ll pile up some rotting wood, leaves, logs, bricks, and rocks. Then just leave it be and it’ll soon become home to numerous bugs and insects such as bees, lacewings, ladybugs, spiders, and beetles.
Don’t Tidy Up Too Much
Aesthetics don’t do much for nature. Paved gardens, decking, and squares of pristine lawn are pleasing to look at, but it’s important to leave untidy areas to encourage your garden’s biodiversity. Piles of leaves and overgrown grass provide shelter and a vital food source for many animals. So it’s good not to mow your lawn regularly during summer, especially since long grass is important to butterflies who lay their eggs in it. And some weeds such as foxgloves, daisies, and buttercups are among the best pollinator plants that produce a lot of nectar and flower for a long time. There are also certain insects such as earwigs and spiders who live under dead plants, so excessive tidying up will rob them of their homes.
As you can see, when it comes to creating a haven for wildlife, it’s all about creating a variety of different microhabitats, without needing a whole lot of effort in the process. It is mainly about paying attention to how we can use the already available garden features in a way to enable and encourage nature to invite our little wildlife guests and neighbours into your friendly green sanctuary.