5 Tips to Help You Attract Wildlife to Your Garden
Creating a wildlife garden can be as small or large a project as you want to make it. It may be anything from a few bird feeders and container plantings on your balcony, to shrubbery, bird boxes, beehives, or a pond filled with koi. The benefits of encouraging biodiversity are numerous. First and foremost, it helps the animals themselves. A wildlife-friendly garden can provide migrating birds with sustenance as they pass through the area and support endemic species all year long.
If you prefer a neatly manicured garden, converting your entire yard to an unruly, naturalist style may be too much of an ask. However, by dedicating even a modestly-sized, low-traffic area to supporting local wildlife, you can benefit from many of the positives without compromising your aesthetic preferences. In fact, sleek, contemporary, formal gardens can be equally appealing to wildlife species of all sizes — if you’re careful to include the appropriate characteristics.
Here are five tips to help you attract wildlife to your backyard.
1. Add a permanent water source.
Animals need access to a supply of fresh water year-round. Without help, wildlife can struggle to find water sources in urban and suburban environments. You can encourage wildlife to your garden by maintaining a constant supply of water in a shady area of your yard.
Choose a place that is not too exposed and that does not receive significant human traffic. It is important to replace the water every few days. In winter, ice from birdbaths and frozen over ponds can prevent access. In summer, watch for stagnant water, which can draw mosquitoes. Year-round, monitor the water level and replenish with fresh water as needed.
2. Feed the birds.
A common addition to the garden, birdfeeders stocked with high-quality, non-commercial birdfeed can be a valuable food source for wild birds. Bird food may help them to survive the cold winter months when their natural food supply is scarce. If you do have a birdfeeder, try to keep feedings as regular as possible and use a mixture that is tailormade for the species that are common in your area.
3. Give beneficial bugs a safe place to stay.
Buying or building a “bug hotel” has a multitude of different benefits, attracting valuable pest control and pollinators like ladybugs, bees, and spiders. Insect hotels provide critters with a safe place to shelter from the weather and predators as well as somewhere to lay eggs and raise their young.
Making a bug hotel is easy and economical, particularly if you use eco-friendly materials like upcycled garden supplies (think broken terra-cotta pots and wooden pallets) and natural items such as sticks and leaves. Bamboo tubes are a great place for solitary be species to lay their eggs, while wood shavings provide ladybugs with safe shelter for their winter hibernation. Meanwhile, acorns, pinecones, and other crevices provide year-round protection for a variety of invertebrates.
4. Plant native flowers.
Just as a splash of color appeals to us, flowers also attract wildlife to your garden — particularly bees and butterflies. Species native to your area will not only look and smell great, but also serve as a valuable food source for insects.
In the United States, the bee population has been in decline for some time now. One species of bee made the endangered species list in 2016 and another joined it the following year. North American flower species that attract bees, butterflies, and other insects include bee balm, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, lavender, goldenrod, and butterfly bush.
5. Reduce your use of chemicals in the garden.
One of the most important steps in “rewilding” your garden, or part of your garden, is to stop using chemical pesticides and herbicides. The use of these products has triggered a huge decline in population of a number of native insect species over the last decade, particularly bees. Switch to natural fertilizers like seaweed feed, or even better, start making your own compost.
Additionally, remember that time you dig, you disturb and destroy important micro-organisms that sustain plant life. Mulching plants with organic matter, such as heaping compost on top of soil, helps maintain this delicate balance and reduces the need for artificial fertilizers.
Conclusion: you are not the only one who enjoys your garden.
Welcoming beneficial insects, birds, and mammals to your yard is a natural form of pest control. Wildlife helps to maintain a healthy balance between beneficial and harmful organisms in the garden. This reduces the need to control pests using chemicals, which can also harm beneficial species like bees.
By opting for the native plants so attractive to local wildlife, gardeners reduce their workloads in terms of watering and weeding. Plants that are endemic to your region should pretty much look after themselves. Wildlife gardens work best when left to ramble a little, requiring minimal pruning, particularly if you select dwarf species.
By interspersing flowering plants with fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can enjoy delicious, nutritious, homegrown food year-round, saving money on your grocery bills. In addition, being close to nature is good for your health. Numerous studies show that immersing yourself in nature reduces stress, promoting emotional wellbeing.
