How to Make Your Landscape Wildlife-Friendly

Want to get closer to nature? Come up with a plan to make your garden a safe haven for wildlife. There are several benefits of a wildlife-friendly garden. The sound of birds chirping is music to the ears. Beneficial worms can help increase the amount of air and water that gets into the soil which helps improve the soil quality in your garden.

Here are some tips from Sonoma County based landscape designers, Gardenworks Inc, to help make your garden more wildlife-friendly.

Add Water

Building a pond is one of the most effective ways to add biodiversity to your garden. Your pond will attract insects, birds, and small animals. Make sure your pond has sloping sides to help provide all sorts of creatures with easier access to the water. If you love the sound of moving water, consider adding a stream to your garden.

Add plants that oxygenate the water while avoiding using invasive species. If building a pond seems like a difficult task, consider keeping a shallow, sloping-sided dish filled with water for the birds that visit your garden instead. Remember to refill the dish regularly.

Feed the Birds

Provide different foods to attract birds to your garden. Build bird boxes, place them near sheltered areas, and put out food in them. If you, or a neighbor, have a cat, place the feeder near a dense bush to provide your visitors with a cover. Clean your bird boxes regularly.

Provide food according to the season. In spring, provide high protein food. Treat your visitors to seeds in the winters.

To attract different species to your garden, create nesting spaces. If your garden does not have suitable trees or hedges for birds to nest in, put up nest boxes.

Create a Haven for Pollinators

To support pollinators, plant local plants. Use nectar-rich plants in your garden. Make sure your garden provides nest sites for bees and other pollinators. Consider adding dandelions. Though they may seem annoying, dandelions are pollen-rich and can provide a lot of food for bees and other bugs.

Compost

Adding compost to your garden soil is one of the most effective ways to improve its quality. Compost adds organic matter to the soil. Composting helps plants and wildlife as it helps speed up the natural recycling of nutrients.

Compost also provides a habitat for worms, slow worms, frogs, and other insects. Avoid using cooked food as it can attract rats and other pests.  

Our team at Gardenworks Inc. comprises of seasoned landscape designers in Sonoma County. Our landscape designs combine aesthetics with functionality. To get answers to all your landscaping questions, call us at (707) 857-2050.