Backyard Wildlife Habitats

Gardening to attract nature not only provides the gardener with hours of therapeutic release, but it provides a refuge for wild creatures and increases their chances of long-term survival. There’s no need for chemicals in a backyard wildlife habitat so it has the added advantage of being organic and healing the earth. Wild life visitors to the garden have pretty basic needs just like humans: food, somewhere to live and breed in safety and water for drinking and bathing.

Providing Shelter for Wildlife

Hedges provide shelter from predators for desirable wildlife. There is protection in winter from windy conditions and the hedge shelter is warmer as well as staying dry at the base. If there are decomposing leaves at the base of the hedge, it has the added advantage of a rich food source for insect eaters, birds, toads, etc. Do not rake out the base of the hedge. Wait until mid to late summer before cutting hedges so as not to disturb nesting birds. Hedges bearing fruit should be left uncut until birds have finished eating the fruit.

An alternative to hedges, are ivy, honeysuckle, and clematis grown through a chain-link fence. Dense evergreen climbers against a wall make excellent wildlife refuges. Leave the climbers and creepers unpruned. Small birds such as wrens will hide in thick ivy on a cold night. Owls will seek refuge in ivy-clad trees and decaying branches attract woodpeckers in search for food and nest sites. Dead branches should be left in place for insect food and shelter for birds. There are many other effective resources that can serve as refuge for wildlife:

• Lawns
• Sheds
• Compost piles
• Mounds of rubbles

Lawns that Attract Nature

Robins and starlings need open areas of short grass to feed on, but amphibians need longer grass. When mowing, alternate areas of mown grass with patches of longer grass. Leave areas of uncut grass wherever possible without making the lawn look shabby. For instance, under trees or bushes.

Sheds as Wildlife Habitats

Garden sheds are useful for butterflies to hibernate and garden birds may nest there. Leave the door slightly open on sunny fall afternoons, but shut it late in the evening.

Compost Piles as Wildlife Habitats

If grass snakes are in the area, they will appreciate the compost pile as a place to lay their eggs and hibernate. Grass snakes are completely harmless so there is no need to discourage them. They are the gardeners friend.

Mounds of Rubble as Wildlife Habitat

Providing mounds of rubble will make the best habitat for amphibians and lizards. Make a mound in a sunny part of the garden by piling up rubble and packing it loosely with topsoil. Leave small gaps between stones for wildlife to hide.

Providing appropriate shelter is the first step in attracting wildlife to the garden. With wildlife in the garden, there’s no need for harmful chemicals. Organic gardening is not only safe for the beautiful wildlife gardeners wish to attract, such as birds and butterflies, but also the food that sustains them such as flies and snails. Once the wildlife habitat is in place, the gardener is ready to plant vegetables, flowers, and sit back to enjoy the beauty of the garden.