I asked you all recently to submit your best tips to help someone start a wildlife garden, and you came up with some awesome suggestions! Thank you 🙂
Welcome to part 2 of Top Tips to Start a Wildlife Garden. Today’s tips:
Anne Tanne, Anne Tanne Kruidenklets:
– create many different habitats: flowering borders, a group of shrubs, a pond – or at least a small tub of water -, maybe even a swampy spot…
– Whenever possible, take care to have a ‘third dimension’: when you don’t have enough place for a tree, you can have at least some climbers against the walls.
– Don’t bother to plant typical ‘bees and butterflies plants’: most flowers that are not too cultivated will attract some kind of insects. (I wrote a post just yesterday about attracting insects with flowering plants, but again: in Dutch)
– take care to have flowers the whole year through… (In Europe we have Ivy and sedum sp. in late fall, snowdrops in winter….)
Furthermore, I would encourage everyone to read the book ‘No nettles required – the truth about wildlife gardening’ by Kenneth Thompson. It’s a very accessible book about the ‘BUGS’ research project. (Biodiversity in Urban Gardens – Sheffield).
Loret T. Setters, Osceola Florida Garden:
The one thing I would start with is the elimination of all pesticides.
Fav. plant: Bidens Alba aka spanish needles, beggarticks
Neighbors: I send pictures of the baby birds who have nested at my place!
Michelle Frederick Vanstrom, Wild Ones Niagara Falls:
Decide what kind of native plant garden do you want: woodland, meadow, rain garden, bird garden, pollinator garden, butterfly garden, shade garden, garden for fall color, fragrant, specific plant community garden, formal or informal?
Gail Eichelberger, Clay and Limestone:
Visit the nearest natural area to see what’s growing. Talk with the naturalist/staff for their ideas.
Joey Randall, The Village Voice:
Join a volunteer group that rescues wildflowers (from building sites, etc.) and/or watch for their spring awesome native plant sales.
Barbara Pintozzi, Mr. McGregor’s Daughter:
Find out what wildlife is in your area and then find out what they need for shelter as well as food. Then search out those plants.
Aren’t these great tips? Now it’s your turn.
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