The Royal Horticultural Society are experts who know how to get more wildlife into your garden. According to the society, encouraging more species to your garden doesn’t have to be hard work or ruin your garden’s looks. It’s just a matter of following a few simple tips.
Choose Your Flowers Wisely
We all know that insects, such as bees and butterflies, need to collect pollen from plants in order to survive. And so if we want to have more of these insects in our gardens, we need to provide them with a source of food. When we provide these insects with food, we also benefit ourselves. We need bees and butterflies to pollinate other plants so that they can reproduce and provide us with food.
Which flowers are the best? In the spring, opt for Crocus and Mahonia. In the winter, choose plants like ivy and Sedum spectabile. Avoid if you can so-called “double flowers.” These are often selectively bred and don’t offer an awful lot of pollen to passers-by.
Grow A Mixture Of Trees And Shrubs
Growing a mixture of trees and shrubs is essential for biodiversity. The animals stopping off in your garden need a range of habitats in which to live and find food. Make sure you choose larger rather than smaller plants and include a variety of different species. Top of the list should be things like hedges and fruit trees as these are the best for supporting life. Potential shrubs and trees include hawthorn, crab apple, and pear trees. There’s more information on how to care for fruit trees on sites like http://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/. Remember, fruit trees are ideal for both providing animals with food and giving you a valuable crop.
Build A Pond
The best ponds for wildlife are those that you dig yourself. But if you don’t fancy that, a plastic tub of water will do. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, ponds are the easiest way to add new wildlife to your garden.
Building your own pond comes with a couple of warnings, though. First off, don’t populate the pond with your own fish. All they will do is eat all of the available food and prevent other species from getting a foothold. Second, always make sure that one side of the pond has a sloping ramp. If you don’t, small creatures, like field mice can get stuck and drown. Third, make sure that you allow plants to naturally inhabit the water. Don’t worry about them covering the surface of the pond. Remember, this pond is all about attracting wildlife, not looking pretty. Good ponds should attract species including newts and frogs.
Offer Birds Food And Water All Year
For many people, birds are the most exciting creatures that come into their gardens. If you want to attract more, make sure that you provide them with food all year round. Feeding in winter is particularly important since this is when their natural food supplies are at their lowest. Make sure you provide birds with a range of different foods, including seeds, scraps from the kitchen and balls of fat. https://rspb.org.uk/ has more information on what you can and cannot feed them.
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