How To Create An Eco-Friendly Garden To Attract Birds & Bees
Birds and bees are so important to the health of our gardens, here's a look at How To Create An Eco-Friendly Garden To Attract Birds & Bees! The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s mission is to conserve and inspire the conservation of Canada’s wildlife and habitats for the use and enjoyment of all and we could not think of anyone better to talk to about this subject.
Creating a Beautiful and Beneficial Garden
One of their initiatives is to certify wildlife-friendly gardens across Canada to acknowledge the great work people are taking on in their yards at school & at home to help wildlife.
From the sweet song of birds to bright butterflies sailing by, there is so much beauty — and benefit — to enjoy in the natural world. Insects pollinate our plants, giving us chocolate, fruit, and vegetables while many insects, birds, bats, toads, and snakes keep our mosquito, cutworm, and other potential pest species in check. But they need habitat to survive. That’s where our gardens come in. With our natural world diminishing at a rapid rate, many are pointing to gardens as a means of maintaining a lifeline for countless wildlife species. All of this is why biodiversity is so important.
Food, Shelter, and Water
Growing a variety of plant types will provide food and shelter — two important habitat needs of wildlife. From vines and perennials to trees and shrubs, they can provide nectar and pollen and then seeds or fruit. A diversity of plant types are also places to nest, rest and escape weather and predators. Even dead or dying tree trunks are imperative for cavity-nesting birds like owls, woodpeckers, and chickadees which keep insect and rodent populations in check.
Together these layers of vegetation increase the "space" of your habitat. It’s like adding rooms and furniture to a bare four-walled house. In addition to the shelter provided by plants, you can add supplemental shelter and places to feed by leaving a log on the ground under a tree, adding a bird or bat house, or making a stone pile for snakes. Leaving a small corner for grasses and other low plants to grow lush will help our fireflies, toads, and other small animals. Our many native solitary bees need open areas of the earth to nest. But don’t worry as they are very docile and those that still have stingers would only sting if hurt.
For water, you can keep it simple with a shallow birdbath. Clean the dish when it begins to look dirty and change the water at least twice a week. This helps eliminate both germs and mosquitoes. If you have the inclination, consider adding a recirculating stream. Even an open patch of sand, compost, or earth invites some species of butterflies to mud puddles (drink water and nutrients) when wet.
Choosing Plants
When thinking about How To Create An Eco-Friendly Garden To Attract Birds & Bees, choosing plants, including a diversity of flower colors, shapes, and sizes can go a long way in helping our many pollinators who themselves are varied in size, ability, and preference. Consider all four seasons to provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and fruit for residents and migrating animals. As regionally native plants are important for the wildlife of that area, consider including them in your garden.
Early and late spring ideas include Bloodroot, Wild Plum, Wild Columbine, and violets. Summer flowers include Echinacea, Yarrow, Joe-Pye Weed, and Liatris. Early and late autumn flowering plants include sunflowers, asters, and Obedient Plant.
Many non-native favorites are also beneficial to our wildlife, including Apple trees and lilacs. Avoid plants that are known invasive species that tend to spread and harm local ecosystems such as some honeysuckles and Daylilies. Some plants have had their nectar and pollen-producing capacity bred out of them so check to make sure most of your plants still provide this important food for our pollinators. Also, avoid plants grown with neonicotinoids that remain in the plant and harm insects that feed on their pollen and nectar. Ask your nursery for details before buying or check out CWF’s neonic-free plant packs.
Earth-friendly Gardening Practices
How you maintain your garden is just as important as what is in it. In fact, the choices you make will not only benefit you and your garden but have impacts on surrounding ecosystems. Avoid chemical pesticides, strengthen plants with natural fertilizers such as compost, and use an organic non-dyed mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture in dry weather. You can nourish your lawn by leaving grass clippings and conserve water by watering at the base of plants in the morning to prevent evaporation.
Certification Program
The Canadian Wildlife Federation wishes to recognize Canadians who have created wildlife-friendly habitats or left existing native habitats. If you think your property meets the needs of wildlife, they'd love to hear from you! If certified, you receive a certificate and decal and will be eligible to purchase a sign to put up in your garden to help spread the word. Some gardens, with permission, are featured in their Grow Wild e-newsletter or in the Canadian Wildlife magazine, serving as inspiration for others.
Okay so we all know that attracting bees is a really good thing, but what we don't want is to attract mosquitoes, to help my hubby build this amazing DIY Mostiqote repellent planter to keep those little bugs away.
