Gardening for Wildlife: Tips to Attract Animals to Your Garden

Sitting in your garden with a cup of tea, the day is behind you, and just as the sun is about to set, birds flock back to the trees for an evening chat. It’s the same routine every evening; snacking on berries in couples of two and singing coarsely to each other from across the yard, the wildlife keeps us frozen, hoping we’ll be treated to more of the show by staying as still and quiet as possible.

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As fall approaches and the days get chillier, you can actually line up for many evenings of wildlife entertainment, right here in your own garden. You just need to know how to attract them - and appreciate the sight of a healthy ecosystem in your backyard.

#1 Build a log-pile

Sure, we love the sight of birds, but you can easily accommodate for other types of animals as well. Hedgehogs, for example, are especially fond of log-piles and will even find it to be an ideal habitat if you shape it as a tepee. Besides from the regular hedgehogs, you’ll also be able to attract all sorts of small mammals and amphibians and insects. Visit http://www.discoverwildlife.com for more log-piling advice.

Just by building one attraction, you’ll see your garden occupied with a variety of wildlife in no time. Remember to check that nobody lives in there before you light the bonfire, though.

#2 Don’t tidy up until the end of winter

Garden maintenance is a regular part of preparing your home for winter. Many homeowners do this as soon as the last apple has fallen from the tree, often taking it to the extreme and ruining the chances for any wildlife to find shelter there during winter.

Try to leave the heaviest garden cleanup until the end of winter, and avoid cutting the hedges too so that birds can find shelter there - as well as giving them some extra time to eat up all the berries. Instead of pruning and tidying, go over your garden equipment and make sure everything is up to date for spring; have a look at http://www.chaincutting.com/ for some great reviews on gardening equipment.

It’s also a good idea to have a look at your garden, find the perfect spot for your log-pile, and spot the weaker plants in your beds to swap with some that may attract animals. Spread the fallen leaves you rake up all over these flowerbeds, by the way, to create a foraging habitat for thrushes and blackbirds during the winter.

#3 Clean the feeders

A garden in fall is perfect for wildlife, and you’ll probably notice how the fallen apples, ripe berries, and seeds of plants have kept them returning for more. As the weather gets colder and harsher, on the other hand, birds depend on your garden more than ever to find food and shelter. Clean them now already by soaking them in sterilizing fluid, and keep washing them regularly to make it pleasant for the birds.

If you’re lucky enough to have a pond in your garden, you should clean it between October and January when the wildlife activity is at its lowest. It’s a good idea to put a few clay tiles at the bottom of your pond, by the way, to make it a bit cozier for overwintering frogs. 

They’ll appreciate your warmth this winter - and you can enjoy the sight of a garden full of life, even when everything else is gray and dismal.