How to Create a Wildlife Friendly Garden
By Brad & Amy Lupton
Gardens Want Company!
A garden is meant to be enjoyed by many different species of birds, insects, humans and other animals. Even under ground in a garden, there are traffic jams of fungus, earthworms, and bacteria everywhere!
When you plant a garden that invites life of all sorts, there will be a balance achieved that can create all levels of protection and higher levels of pollination and yields.
You might be thinking, well what about when my plants get completely eaten?
We have been there. Rabbits, mice, caterpillars, & beetles can be quite rude when they eat what we were so excited about harvesting. Measures can and should be taken to keep critters away from your harvests (such as nets, fences for large animals such as deer).
But when your garden has its own biome of sorts, the occurrence of total destruction of your plants will be much less. For example, when a bird population other wildlife is invited in they can help control pests, balance the ecosystem and add ambience. With that being said, there are a certain amount of plants that go to wildlife, but when you factor the increased yields and pollination from the invited guests, it comes out ahead. :)
Here are our favorite ways to create a wildlife friendly garden space. We encourage to you to incorporate a few in your spring garden this year!
Invite Birds into your Garden
Birds can be a big ally to your garden by keeping pests that would eat your plants at bay.
Birds love having a clean & consistent water source, so a nice bird bath will keep them happy. If you are looking for a certain type of bird, install nesting boxes with the proper dimensions and in the right spot to attract them.
Plant natives that offer food sources of nectar, seeds and berries are a wonderful additive. If you don’t want them near certain plants, you can hang netting over the plants, or install small strings with shiny things attached to the bottom like small mirrors or reflective glass. They tend to not like shiny things that move.
Lawns are overrated.
If you have an extra space or lawn area… create a meadow of flowers, plant wildflower seeds for your area or meadow plants such as daisy’s, yarrow, aster or sunflowers.
If you want to attract bees or butterflies, certain flowers can be amazing. Check for what is best for your area. Many local plant nurseries have a mix that works great for your area.
Make a hedge.
Our Liferoot Garden
Our countrysides of America have lost much of our hedges, or barriers where wildlife can disperse to and in. If you have a space to make a hedge area, do! Plants like honeysuckle, ivy, holly, buckthorn make great hedge space. Don't clear them in the winter so the wildlife can still utilize the space.
Avoid Monocropping.
When you plant one type of plant in a large area, it says to one type of bug... Come in and eat!
When you mix plants together, and not create a large area of one type of plant, then various things can come in and not invite one type of bug to take out your plants.
This is why Liferoot offers our Kitchen Sink Spring and Fall Seeds. When plants are mixed in together, they grow in guilds, creating protection in numbers together and keeps bugs from destroying too many plants at once.
Finally, have patience. :)
When you first start allowing wildlife and bugs back into your garden, it can be frustrating. But over time, a whole ecosystem will be present and you will love it!
Happy Gardening! xo Amy and Brad
