WAYS TO ATTRACT WILDLIFE TO YOUR GARDENS
Ways To Attract Wildlife To Your Gardens
Introduction
Borders, filled with flowering plants and shrubs, give nectar rich food to butterflies and bees, as well as seeds, berries and cover for birds and small mammals. Trees, and hedges offer roosting and nesting sites for birds and mammals, as well as valuable shelter and cover from the elements and possible predators.
So, how do you encourage wildlife to your garden?
Ideas on attracting wildlife to your garden. Grow a mix of trees and shrubs. As well as providing food, they provide cover and nesting sites for garden animals, from insects to larger species such as sparrows, starlings, etc. Small trees and shrubs that are good for blossom and berries include rowan, crab apple, elder, blackthorn and hawthorn – and not just our native species.
And what plants attract wildlife?
Buying plants for attracting wildlife. Use quality, healthy garden plants. These could be Anemone and Chives plants that are both good choices. Native hedging such as holly plants provide essential cover and corridors that join up green spaces for small mammals, whilst night-scented plants such as Buddleia flowers are great for bees, moths and small flies, which in turn are a feast for bats.
What can I do to attract wildlife?
Tips for attracting wildlife to your garden. Use plants, shrubs and trees that provide food and shelter. So, get creative, go organic, do recycle, provide sources of water & don’t waste. Make a caterpillar home, build a hornet, spider or insect hotel.
How do I make my garden look wild?
Easy ways to create your own wild life garden. One of the best ways to do this is to plant a variety of native plants rich in nectar, such as bellflowers, peonies, daisies, and lovely lavender. You could also consider building your own bug hotel, hedgehog house or simply leaving a pile of logs for insects to explore.
And how can I increase biodiversity in my garden?
Trees, hedges and shrubs are brilliant for encouraging biodiversity, as they offer shelter and nesting areas for wildlife. Many species also produce flowers, fruits and seeds which wildlife love, such as alder (Alnus glutinosa), crab apple (Malus sylvestris), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and hazel (Corylus avellana).
How do I make my garden a sanctuary?
10 Ways to Create a Relaxing Sanctuary in Your Garden.
- Fragrant Plants.
- Create a Sense of Enclosure.
- Winding Pathways.
- Comfortable Seating.
- Wind Chimes.
- Add a Water Feature.
- Add a Swing or Hammock.
- Build an inviting patio area.
- Shaded areas.
- Natural children’s creative play areas.
How can I help my garden birds in the winter?
Some of our own food can be good for birds, for example, fruit cake or mince pies, dried fruit, unsalted nuts, or apples and pears past their best. Try sprinkling grated mild cheese under trees and bushes for more timid birds like wrens and dunnocks.
Do insects like wildflowers and can they grow back every year?
There are two main types of wildflowers – annuals and perennials. Perennials are well known for coming back each year but take longer to establish. Annuals appear 60-80 days after sowing, but typically only have one showing.
Are hydrangeas good for wildlife?
Yes, the Climbing Hydrangea is ideal for this purpose. Like all climbers it provides shelter for a variety of different species, including nesting birds. It’s tolerant of shade and is therefore useful for growing up a north-facing wall. However, if you grow it on a south-facing wall, its flowers are a magnet for pollinating hoverflies and other insects.
Which trees attracts the most wildlife?
10 best trees to attract birds and other wildlife:
- Silver birch (Betula pendula)
- Wild cherry (Prunus avium)
- Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
- Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
- English oak (Quercus robur)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
- Hazel (Corylus avellana)
- Field maple (Acer campestre)
- Rowan ( Sorbus Aucuparia)
- Crab Apple (Malus Sylvestris)
*Tree Size: Up to 20 metres maximum but usually smaller.*
Suet or bird seed, which is better?
Suet is a top food to offer wild birds. While birdseed is the top offering in many backyard feeders, suet is actually higher in easily digestible fat and calories which provides quick energy to hungry birds. This makes suet ideal for fall and winter feeding when birds need more calories to maintain body heat.
In a climate-friendly garden, you plant strategically to attract natural predators to take care of the pests you don’t want in your garden. Here are some ways you can work toward attracting wildlife to help care for your garden naturally. Doing this means you don’t need to use chemical pesticides or unnatural practices to keep a healthy garden.
7 ideas to try for your eco-friendly garden
1. Plant Trees, Hedges and Shrubs – Planting a variety of trees and shrubs in many different sizes and types will provide food for birds, bees, and other wildlife that are beneficial for your garden. Providing nesting sites for many different types of animals is good for the ecology of your garden.
2. Keep the Deadwood – Dying trees or parts of a dying tree have a big use to gardeners. They are habitats for organisms that keep your garden ecosystem healthy. Fungi, mosses, and insects will attract birds to them who will eat them. They are also habitats for snakes and other animals, so locate them strategically. Don’t worry; garden snakes are good because they eat rats and small mammals that will eat the food from your garden.
3. Create Water Features – Creating water features can also bring wildlife to your garden, such as frogs. Ensure that your water features are water catchment systems. Save rain water by investing in containers to catch the water. You can also save your gray water from your washer or shower if you ensure that you use the right types of soaps and detergents that are safe and eco-friendly.
4. Keep Some Long Grass – Plant longer grasses in some areas of your lawn. It provides cover for small animals, reptiles, and caterpillars. If you leave some of your grass uncut throughout the year, alternating the areas every couple of years to avoid the grass from becoming too coarse, you’ll create plenty of places for these animals to be where they help not harm your garden.
5. Plant Variety – It’s important to plant a diversity of different types of plants that are native to your area, and the right plants for the climate of your area. You can often discover many varieties at locally owned garden centers as opposed to chain garden centers. Doing so will help cut down on pests, fuel and time.
6. Encourage Wildflowers – Don’t automatically get rid of all wildflowers as “weeds”. Some of them are beautiful and they can be very valuable to improve the ecology of your garden. They also provide food for insects and butterflies which can encourage pollination of your plants but less eating of your plants. Nettles and thistles are especially helpful for providing a breeding area for butterflies.
7. Put Up Bird Houses and Nesting Boxes – If you’d like more birds in your garden, you can put up nesting boxes on walls, in fences and in trees facing the right way to provide shelter for birds. Put them up at least twelve to fifteen feet off the ground to keep them protected. Be sure to clean these boxes each year when the birds have left the boxes to cut down on parasites.
The beautiful thing about climate-friendly gardening practices is that they naturally attract just the right wildlife to your garden, helping your garden protect against disease and pests naturally without the need for chemicals and fuel-based pesticides. When the garden is done right it is a win-win special place for the gardener and wildlife.