Oct
23
Wildlife in the Winter Garden
Filed Under Gardening | Comments Off
Ellie Dixon asked:
As winter approaches and the days grow shorter we are likely to spend much less time winter gardening - there aren’t so many tasks to be done, and staying warm and cosy indoors seems a much more attractive prospect. Similarly, the wildlife in a winter garden is searching out food and shelter to help survive the winter, and there’s a lot we can do to help them in their quest for survival.
As we want to become less active in the winter garden, our neglect helps to offer wildlife in the garden many desirable winter residences. There was once a time when no respectable gardener could retire indoors for the winter unless the herbaceous borders had been cleared, all the fallen leaves removed and the vegetable patch reduced to bare soil.
Areas of leaf litter provide homes for many beneficial insect species and will protect delicate plants that may otherwise be killed by the cold weather and frosty nights. The stark angular outlines of berried shrubs and the seed heads of annual and perennial plants give a visual structure to the winter garden, and many will last long into the season, providing important food for birds and other wildlife in the garden who will work their way through all the seeds and berries during the cold months.
Additionally, stone walls, log heaps and untidy coorners provide ideal homes in our winter garden s for all kinds of wild animals, from field mice to frogs, toads and hedgehogs.
There are also ways we can actively encourage wildlife in the garden, not only into the winter garden, but throughout the year. These days the domestic garden is an invaluable habitat and if we manage it well we will be rewarded with a wide variety of wildlife in the garden that will act as natural predators on our less welcome garden pests.
Feeding the birds is a top priority for pest control, but once you start, it is important to be reliable and continue as birds will waste energy visiting your winter garden bird feeder or table to no avail if no food is provided. In frosty weather they will also need water. This is a good time of year to fix new nesting boxes in place so the birds will have plenty of time to check them out before the spring comes.
Insects also need places to hide in the winter garden and while many will take up residence in existing nooks and crannies, it’s a good idea to provide some additional nesting places. These can be home made from simple materials such as a handful of straw or short lengths of cane in a flower pot, but you can also buy commercial versions.
So, why not spend some time making your winter garden welcoming and comfortable for your wildlife in winter? That way both you and they will be rested and ready for the lengthening days next spring.
AARON
As winter approaches and the days grow shorter we are likely to spend much less time winter gardening - there aren’t so many tasks to be done, and staying warm and cosy indoors seems a much more attractive prospect. Similarly, the wildlife in a winter garden is searching out food and shelter to help survive the winter, and there’s a lot we can do to help them in their quest for survival.
As we want to become less active in the winter garden, our neglect helps to offer wildlife in the garden many desirable winter residences. There was once a time when no respectable gardener could retire indoors for the winter unless the herbaceous borders had been cleared, all the fallen leaves removed and the vegetable patch reduced to bare soil.
___________________________________________________________________
Areas of leaf litter provide homes for many beneficial insect species and will protect delicate plants that may otherwise be killed by the cold weather and frosty nights. The stark angular outlines of berried shrubs and the seed heads of annual and perennial plants give a visual structure to the winter garden, and many will last long into the season, providing important food for birds and other wildlife in the garden who will work their way through all the seeds and berries during the cold months.
Additionally, stone walls, log heaps and untidy coorners provide ideal homes in our winter garden s for all kinds of wild animals, from field mice to frogs, toads and hedgehogs.
There are also ways we can actively encourage wildlife in the garden, not only into the winter garden, but throughout the year. These days the domestic garden is an invaluable habitat and if we manage it well we will be rewarded with a wide variety of wildlife in the garden that will act as natural predators on our less welcome garden pests.
Feeding the birds is a top priority for pest control, but once you start, it is important to be reliable and continue as birds will waste energy visiting your winter garden bird feeder or table to no avail if no food is provided. In frosty weather they will also need water. This is a good time of year to fix new nesting boxes in place so the birds will have plenty of time to check them out before the spring comes.
Insects also need places to hide in the winter garden and while many will take up residence in existing nooks and crannies, it’s a good idea to provide some additional nesting places. These can be home made from simple materials such as a handful of straw or short lengths of cane in a flower pot, but you can also buy commercial versions.
So, why not spend some time making your winter garden welcoming and comfortable for your wildlife in winter? That way both you and they will be rested and ready for the lengthening days next spring.
AARON
Sep
24
Gardening for Wildlife
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Heather Richards asked:
Whether you have a large property, an average backyard or no more room than a patio or balcony, you can transform your space into a peaceful and attractive garden for you and a sanctuary for a variety of local wildlife. Your wildlife habitat can be as simple as choosing a few large potted plants to attract butterflies or hummingbirds, or hanging bird-feeders supplying an assortment of foods for your favorite birds. Or it can be as elaborate as your space will allow.
You can create a pond for fish, turtles, frogs, toads and other wetland creatures; surround it with Typha (cat-tails/bulrushes), Irises, Saggitaria (arrowhead), and who could forget water-lilies? This scenery could attract some very interesting and unique wetland wildlife, such as beautiful dragonflies whose larvae are aquatic. Depending on your locale, ducks could even be drawn to your garden pond.
You may also want bee-attracting plants, because bees are oftentimes a garden’s best friends. Plants and flowers which are high in nectar and pollen are great for attracting bees, also make sure to plant them so they are accessible and obvious. It is an especially good idea for a back yard where children play, because bees will be more attracted to those plants rather than small flowers on the ground that children may step on.
If you’re particularly interested in butterflies, it’s a good idea not to concentrate only on plants that will attract adult butterflies. Instead, choose plants that may also give them a place to hibernate and lay eggs, and plants that caterpillars like to eat. Some of them are not very attractive and generally aren’t included in most gardens, such as nettles and thistles, dogbane, or milkweed.
Birds may enjoy flowering shrubs, you could choose a species of Viburnum, and with over 150 different kinds it should be easy to choose one that will be a perfect addition to your garden. Viburnums are relatives of honeysuckle, but not often victimized by pets, another reason for their great popularity. The foliage of Viburnums vary greatly from one kind to another, there are evergreen, semi-evergreen, as well as many deciduous varieties which are especially attractive in autumn.
It’s also important to have a water source in your garden, an old tub or basin would be fine, otherwise you could install a birdbath or fountain. You could also place a broken clay pot in your garden to house a toad, or a woodpile to welcome all sorts of insects or a frog if it’s wet enough. If your woodpile is big enough, you may even find a rabbit living in your garden!
You may want to leave part of your garden wild (or plant wildflowers there), near a fence line or an isolated corner, and do not tend it often. This can also attract a variety of your local bugs, and entice butterflies and birds to linger longer in your garden sanctuary.
If the goal of your garden is to attract and shelter wildlife, you may also be interested in organic gardening and pest control. After all, you wouldn’t want to harm all of the creatures you’ve successfully lured to your garden, would you? There are lots of organic gardening tips and tricks available, especially since so many people are now starting to “wise up” and go green!
EMANUEL
Whether you have a large property, an average backyard or no more room than a patio or balcony, you can transform your space into a peaceful and attractive garden for you and a sanctuary for a variety of local wildlife. Your wildlife habitat can be as simple as choosing a few large potted plants to attract butterflies or hummingbirds, or hanging bird-feeders supplying an assortment of foods for your favorite birds. Or it can be as elaborate as your space will allow.
You can create a pond for fish, turtles, frogs, toads and other wetland creatures; surround it with Typha (cat-tails/bulrushes), Irises, Saggitaria (arrowhead), and who could forget water-lilies? This scenery could attract some very interesting and unique wetland wildlife, such as beautiful dragonflies whose larvae are aquatic. Depending on your locale, ducks could even be drawn to your garden pond.
___________________________________________________________________
You may also want bee-attracting plants, because bees are oftentimes a garden’s best friends. Plants and flowers which are high in nectar and pollen are great for attracting bees, also make sure to plant them so they are accessible and obvious. It is an especially good idea for a back yard where children play, because bees will be more attracted to those plants rather than small flowers on the ground that children may step on.
If you’re particularly interested in butterflies, it’s a good idea not to concentrate only on plants that will attract adult butterflies. Instead, choose plants that may also give them a place to hibernate and lay eggs, and plants that caterpillars like to eat. Some of them are not very attractive and generally aren’t included in most gardens, such as nettles and thistles, dogbane, or milkweed.
Birds may enjoy flowering shrubs, you could choose a species of Viburnum, and with over 150 different kinds it should be easy to choose one that will be a perfect addition to your garden. Viburnums are relatives of honeysuckle, but not often victimized by pets, another reason for their great popularity. The foliage of Viburnums vary greatly from one kind to another, there are evergreen, semi-evergreen, as well as many deciduous varieties which are especially attractive in autumn.
It’s also important to have a water source in your garden, an old tub or basin would be fine, otherwise you could install a birdbath or fountain. You could also place a broken clay pot in your garden to house a toad, or a woodpile to welcome all sorts of insects or a frog if it’s wet enough. If your woodpile is big enough, you may even find a rabbit living in your garden!
You may want to leave part of your garden wild (or plant wildflowers there), near a fence line or an isolated corner, and do not tend it often. This can also attract a variety of your local bugs, and entice butterflies and birds to linger longer in your garden sanctuary.
If the goal of your garden is to attract and shelter wildlife, you may also be interested in organic gardening and pest control. After all, you wouldn’t want to harm all of the creatures you’ve successfully lured to your garden, would you? There are lots of organic gardening tips and tricks available, especially since so many people are now starting to “wise up” and go green!
EMANUEL
Sep
17
How to Plant a Wildlife Hedge
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Ellie Dixon asked:
The hawthorn is one of England’s most common hedging shrubs and can be found all over the UK. But did you know that it attracts more than 200 different species of insect, together with the small birds and mammals which feed both on those insects and, in autumn, on the plant’s prolific red berries. Native species are the best to use for your hedges as they will encourage a much greater variety of wildlife.
It’s easy to establish a wildlife hedge and it’s really exciting to watch the development of your own private nature reserve. Even if you don’t have room for a hedge in your garden, a small clump of shrubs will still help your local wildlife, particularly if you plant them in an undisturbed, sunny place. Be sure to choose species that grow naturally in your local area. Why not think about a mixture of blackthorn, hazel, dogwood, hornbeam (slow growing), holly and alder? The seeds and berries of all of these are good for wildlife, but do be careful if you have young children as they are mildly poisonous and can cause upset stomachs.
The best time to plant your hedge is in late autumn so that the shrubs have chance to get settled in before the beginning of winter, particularly if you are using bare-rooted seedlings. To ensure your hedge is dense and attractive to wildlife, use 9 plants per yard in staggered rows. If you are in a rural area you may wish to consider protecting your young plants against rabbits which will nibble the tender shoots! Mix up your different species in clumps - think how varied a country hedge looks. This will make the end result appear more natural.
You will also need to discourage weed and grass growth as your new hedge will need plenty of nutrients and moisture from the soil and grasses growing too close will compete for these and slow down the development of your hedge.
After a couple of years your hedge will be three to four feet tall, but some of the species will grow more quickly than others which will cause height discrepancies - adding to the natural effect! If you have leggy plants then try coppicing - a traditional, if slightly drastic hedge management practice. To do this, cut the plants back, almost to ground level in the winter. This will encourage vigorous new growth from the base of the plant which will be particularly attractive to wildlife. Don’t forget to continue your weed control after coppicing to promote quick regrowth.
In three or four years time you should find yourself the proud owner of a good thick, wildlife-friendly hedge. At this stage you can start to let grasses grow, or why not try a good wildflower mixture, at the base of your hedge. This will provide extra food and cover for birds, insects and mammals.
Your hedge should need little maintenance apart from a light trim in late winter, after the berries and seeds have been eaten, but before the birds start to build their new nests. You’ll then be able to sit back and enjoy the wildlife in your own thriving wildlife hedge.
ROBBIE
___________________________________________________________________
The hawthorn is one of England’s most common hedging shrubs and can be found all over the UK. But did you know that it attracts more than 200 different species of insect, together with the small birds and mammals which feed both on those insects and, in autumn, on the plant’s prolific red berries. Native species are the best to use for your hedges as they will encourage a much greater variety of wildlife.
It’s easy to establish a wildlife hedge and it’s really exciting to watch the development of your own private nature reserve. Even if you don’t have room for a hedge in your garden, a small clump of shrubs will still help your local wildlife, particularly if you plant them in an undisturbed, sunny place. Be sure to choose species that grow naturally in your local area. Why not think about a mixture of blackthorn, hazel, dogwood, hornbeam (slow growing), holly and alder? The seeds and berries of all of these are good for wildlife, but do be careful if you have young children as they are mildly poisonous and can cause upset stomachs.
The best time to plant your hedge is in late autumn so that the shrubs have chance to get settled in before the beginning of winter, particularly if you are using bare-rooted seedlings. To ensure your hedge is dense and attractive to wildlife, use 9 plants per yard in staggered rows. If you are in a rural area you may wish to consider protecting your young plants against rabbits which will nibble the tender shoots! Mix up your different species in clumps - think how varied a country hedge looks. This will make the end result appear more natural.
You will also need to discourage weed and grass growth as your new hedge will need plenty of nutrients and moisture from the soil and grasses growing too close will compete for these and slow down the development of your hedge.
After a couple of years your hedge will be three to four feet tall, but some of the species will grow more quickly than others which will cause height discrepancies - adding to the natural effect! If you have leggy plants then try coppicing - a traditional, if slightly drastic hedge management practice. To do this, cut the plants back, almost to ground level in the winter. This will encourage vigorous new growth from the base of the plant which will be particularly attractive to wildlife. Don’t forget to continue your weed control after coppicing to promote quick regrowth.
In three or four years time you should find yourself the proud owner of a good thick, wildlife-friendly hedge. At this stage you can start to let grasses grow, or why not try a good wildflower mixture, at the base of your hedge. This will provide extra food and cover for birds, insects and mammals.
Your hedge should need little maintenance apart from a light trim in late winter, after the berries and seeds have been eaten, but before the birds start to build their new nests. You’ll then be able to sit back and enjoy the wildlife in your own thriving wildlife hedge.
ROBBIE
Sep
11
Wildlife Gardening: Attracting Wild Visitors
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Linda Pollitt asked:
Why is it so Important?
In recent years, the popularity of wildlife gardening has grown dramatically. Not only are gardeners increasingly aware of our declining wildlife and keen to play a role in its survival, but they are also discovering the joy of sharing a garden with native species.
We share our small garden with birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs and even the odd fox. Nothing quite beats the magic of breakfast outside on a sunny morning, watching the birds feed, squabble and sing.
Jane Davies.
The past 100 years have seen the loss of some of our most precious habitats. Ecologist Janice Crook explains “Estimates vary widely, but it seems that since 1945 we have lost something like 50% of our ancient woodland, and 95% of our flower-rich meadows.” Little wonder then that many of our most loved wild animal species have also declined dramatically. Even once common species such as tree sparrows are at risk – these lively garden visitors are now on the RSPB’s red data list for endangered species.
Even tiny wildlife areas can help to stem the decline by providing a safe home for native plants and animals. It might seem that one small garden cannot make a difference to such a huge problem, but with around fifteen million private gardens in Britain , covering up to three million acres of land, gardeners really can make a difference. If even a fraction of these gardeners gave some of their land over to wildlife habitat they could provide many new homes for our most endangered species. Gardens have special value because they are arranged into networks of green space, often going into the very hearts of our largest cities, and forming safe ‘wildlife corridors’ along which animals and plants can travel.
As our farmland and other natural areas continue to be degraded or developed, gardens will become ever more important as wildlife refuges.
A Wildlife Food Supply
If you have the space, select a range of plants that can supply different types of food throughout the year. The following guidelines will help you to maximise the amount of pollen and nectar available in your garden:
Plant a range of species that flower at different times of the year;
Include some early flowering plants, as early spring is a critical time for many insects;
Include plenty of species where the nectar and pollen is available near the surface of the flower;
Select simple flowers where the pollen and nectar are easy for insect visitors to reach - avoid double flowers and others that are difficult for insects to tackle. Also be aware that some garden flowers are sterile.
What To Do
Small changes can make a tremendous difference to the amount of wildlife attracted into your garden. For instance, by incorporating native plants carrying scented flowers, seeds and berries you can attract birds, bees, butterflies, and many other desirable animals, as well as predatory insects such as ladybirds. Butterflies, moths and songbirds feed mainly on nectar, pollen and seed. Bees too are attracted by nectar.
You can incorporate ‘food’ plants throughout the garden or perhaps plan a ’service station border’ which contains a mixture of flowering and fruiting shrubs, herbaceous perennials and colourful bedding plants, all chosen to provide food for wildlife. If you only have a small window box select beautiful flowering annuals to attract bees and butterflies, as well as brightening up a window sill.
The following list shows some of the most successful border flowers and shrubs offering pollen, nectar and seeds, but remember that wildflowers can be important too.
Garden plants to look out for include: Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), winter aconite (Earanthus hyemalis), elephant’s ears (Bergenia cordifolia), anenome (Anenome blanda), polyanthus (Primula vulgaris elatior), honesty (Lunaria biennis), sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis), forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.), leopard’s bane (Doronicum pardalianches), sweet william (Dianthus barbatus), shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum), cranesbill (Geranium spp.), sweet bergamot (Monarda didyma), oriental poppy (Papaver orentiale), valerian (Centranthus ruber), angelica (Angelica archangelica), lovage (Levesticum officinale), yarrow (Achillea filipendulina), hollyhock (Alcea rosa), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), mint (Mentha rotundifolia), meadow saffron (Colchium autumnale).
Wildflowers that are particularly good as a source of nectar or seeds include: lesser burdock (Articum minus), hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), field scabious (Knautia arvensis), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), betony (Stachys officinalis), and hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica).
Shrubs to attract wildlife include: Buddleia (Buddleia spp.), Chaenomeles japonica, Pyracantha coccinea, Amelanchier canadensis, Cotoneaster frigida, Viburnum tinus, Viburnum bodnantense, Mahonia spp., Cytisus scoparius (broom), and shrub roses of all kinds.
In addition, where possible incorporate native tree and shrub species, such as hawthorn, guelder rose, and elder in the UK, as these are particularly attractive to native insects and birds.
For more advice on gardening, visit the Garden School.
To try a free home study gardening course visit Learning Curve.
HEATH
Why is it so Important?
In recent years, the popularity of wildlife gardening has grown dramatically. Not only are gardeners increasingly aware of our declining wildlife and keen to play a role in its survival, but they are also discovering the joy of sharing a garden with native species.
We share our small garden with birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs and even the odd fox. Nothing quite beats the magic of breakfast outside on a sunny morning, watching the birds feed, squabble and sing.
Jane Davies.
The past 100 years have seen the loss of some of our most precious habitats. Ecologist Janice Crook explains “Estimates vary widely, but it seems that since 1945 we have lost something like 50% of our ancient woodland, and 95% of our flower-rich meadows.” Little wonder then that many of our most loved wild animal species have also declined dramatically. Even once common species such as tree sparrows are at risk – these lively garden visitors are now on the RSPB’s red data list for endangered species.
Even tiny wildlife areas can help to stem the decline by providing a safe home for native plants and animals. It might seem that one small garden cannot make a difference to such a huge problem, but with around fifteen million private gardens in Britain , covering up to three million acres of land, gardeners really can make a difference. If even a fraction of these gardeners gave some of their land over to wildlife habitat they could provide many new homes for our most endangered species. Gardens have special value because they are arranged into networks of green space, often going into the very hearts of our largest cities, and forming safe ‘wildlife corridors’ along which animals and plants can travel.
As our farmland and other natural areas continue to be degraded or developed, gardens will become ever more important as wildlife refuges.
A Wildlife Food Supply
If you have the space, select a range of plants that can supply different types of food throughout the year. The following guidelines will help you to maximise the amount of pollen and nectar available in your garden:
Plant a range of species that flower at different times of the year;
Include some early flowering plants, as early spring is a critical time for many insects;
Include plenty of species where the nectar and pollen is available near the surface of the flower;
Select simple flowers where the pollen and nectar are easy for insect visitors to reach - avoid double flowers and others that are difficult for insects to tackle. Also be aware that some garden flowers are sterile.
What To Do
Small changes can make a tremendous difference to the amount of wildlife attracted into your garden. For instance, by incorporating native plants carrying scented flowers, seeds and berries you can attract birds, bees, butterflies, and many other desirable animals, as well as predatory insects such as ladybirds. Butterflies, moths and songbirds feed mainly on nectar, pollen and seed. Bees too are attracted by nectar.
You can incorporate ‘food’ plants throughout the garden or perhaps plan a ’service station border’ which contains a mixture of flowering and fruiting shrubs, herbaceous perennials and colourful bedding plants, all chosen to provide food for wildlife. If you only have a small window box select beautiful flowering annuals to attract bees and butterflies, as well as brightening up a window sill.
The following list shows some of the most successful border flowers and shrubs offering pollen, nectar and seeds, but remember that wildflowers can be important too.
Garden plants to look out for include: Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), winter aconite (Earanthus hyemalis), elephant’s ears (Bergenia cordifolia), anenome (Anenome blanda), polyanthus (Primula vulgaris elatior), honesty (Lunaria biennis), sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis), forget-me-not (Myosotis spp.), leopard’s bane (Doronicum pardalianches), sweet william (Dianthus barbatus), shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum), cranesbill (Geranium spp.), sweet bergamot (Monarda didyma), oriental poppy (Papaver orentiale), valerian (Centranthus ruber), angelica (Angelica archangelica), lovage (Levesticum officinale), yarrow (Achillea filipendulina), hollyhock (Alcea rosa), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), mint (Mentha rotundifolia), meadow saffron (Colchium autumnale).
Wildflowers that are particularly good as a source of nectar or seeds include: lesser burdock (Articum minus), hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), field scabious (Knautia arvensis), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), woody nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum), betony (Stachys officinalis), and hedge woundwort (Stachys sylvatica).
Shrubs to attract wildlife include: Buddleia (Buddleia spp.), Chaenomeles japonica, Pyracantha coccinea, Amelanchier canadensis, Cotoneaster frigida, Viburnum tinus, Viburnum bodnantense, Mahonia spp., Cytisus scoparius (broom), and shrub roses of all kinds.
In addition, where possible incorporate native tree and shrub species, such as hawthorn, guelder rose, and elder in the UK, as these are particularly attractive to native insects and birds.
For more advice on gardening, visit the Garden School.
To try a free home study gardening course visit Learning Curve.
HEATH