Gardens are very important to wildlife. They not only provide food and shelter to a large number of plants, insects and animals, they form a 'stepping stone' between very built-up areas and natural countryside that allows wildlife to move easily from one place to another. Also, as more and more of our natural habitats become eroded, polluted or disappear all together, our gardens are increasingly becoming a refuge for our wildlife. Whether you are an expert gardener or just enjoy growing a few plants on your patio, there is a lot you can do to attract wildlife to your garden. Your garden may already have walls, trees, hedges or flower beds that provide a habitat for wildlife. Here are a few things you should be doing to attract wildlife into your garden and some things you shouldn't!
Things you should do to attract wildlife
Make sure you provide shelter and cover for roosting and nesting birds. Also provide them with a variety of food all year round (birds need to consume a large amount of food each day just to stay alive, so feeding during nesting time and in the winter is especially important).
Leave flower seeds and hedge fruits until at least February before trimming them back. This will provide food for birds and other wildlife. It is also important to provide water, either in the form of a pond which has other obvious benefits, but if not then a bird bath.
Make sure you leave a few untidy corners in your garden with piles of leaves, logs and stones for hedgehogs, frogs and toads, and other reptiles. Make sure you grow at least a few native plants and set aside some space to grow wild flowers to attract insects and provide cover for small mammals. Lastly, grow flowers that produce lots of nectar or seeds for pollinating insects and birds, even if you just set aside a few garden planters for the purpose.
Things you shouldn't do
Don't cut your hedges between March and the end of July so as not to disturb nesting birds. If you are a bird lover, you may also want to think carefully before keeping a cat! Don't have fish in your pond if you want to attract other wildlife such as dragonflies and tadpoles, as the fish will eat them.
Avoid using pesticides, insecticides or slug pellets on your garden. There are more organic ways of dealing with these pests. In fact, you will find that the more wildlife you encourage into your garden, the more these pests will be dealt with naturally.
Jo Poultney is one of two people behind Garden Planters. I have an RHS general certificate in horticulture. Garden Planters source unusual outdoor and indoor planters, and other garden related gifts - whatever your taste, be it traditional, modern or just a bit quirky, we will have something for you. I believe garden planters are an integral part of any garden - they enhance the overall design and say a little something about the person to whom the garden belongs. If you would like to know more about Garden Planters, visit our website at http://www.gardenplantersshop.co.uk
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