Finding the perfect garden style for your back yard can be a tough choice. Every green-fingered person loves all sorts of flowers, different types of grass and loves taking care of their plants. There is a good chance if you are a plant lover that you are also an animal lover so why not get into a different kind of gardening style and start a wildlife garden?  

Many people are turning to this “alternative” gardening style for many different reasons. By turning to wildlife gardening you are supporting the natural environment around you and are supporting small furry mammals, birds, and insects. 

Making your garden into a wildlife home for different species is actually quite easy. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and it doesn’t require acres of land, even the smallest garden can be turned into a perfect wildlife garden style heaven. 

There are several steps you will need to follow if you want to turn your land into the perfect and beautiful refuge place for different kinds of animals. The good news is everything is going to be easy peasy. 

Plant the Right Plants

The first step to making your garden into a wildlife garden style heaven is to research everything you can about what are the right plants for a wildlife garden. For example, planting different kinds of flowers of your choice will provide pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies and other insects. 

Plant as many as you like, and make sure you plant flowers that will be there through different seasons. So consider native and non-native flowers. Also don’t forget about trees, shrubs, and climbers. If you want your garden to be a versatile place for all sorts of animal guests providing them a place to stay is very important. Especially if you want them to start a family there which would be lovely. 

Create a Pond

A wildlife garden style also requires a pond. Ideally, it would be perfect if you can dig a real pond but if that isn’t an option you can bury a shallow bucket or something similar. It should be filled with rainwater, and the ideal place for your pond would be somewhere in the middle of the sunny and shady spot. Line your pond with stones to provide them a sloping side for them to easily get out of the pond. An extra tip for making your pond oxygenated is planting water lilies and it also looks absolutely lovely. 

Make Room For Insects

To make space for insects you are going to need a quiet spot where you can pile up rocks, bricks, logs and leaves and when you are done you should leave it alone. If not disturbed this place will quickly become insect heaven and will attract beetles, spiders and so on. 

Build a Compost Bin

Not only is a compost bin a fantastic way to feed your soil but they are also a great place for worms, frogs, fungi, woodlice and so on. To put it simply it will attract all the swamp species. The easiest way to attract these kinds of animals is by putting raw food waste. If you want to avoid rats under no circumstances should you put cooked food unless you have a bin that keeps them out. Once the compost is done you will also use it to spread across your plant beds. 

Make a Bird Box and a Feeder

When considering where to place a bird box and a feeder in your wildlife garden style you must think about several things. It should be strategically placed where it will be out of reach to predators but it should also be placed close to a bush so that small birds like blue tits can easily come and go. There are many different bird boxes and feeders on your market but you can also make one on your own. 

Let Your Plants Grow

There is something special about a tidy garden style that makes it so popular amongst people and we do all enjoy taking care of it and maintaining it but the great thing about wildlife garden is that you can just go easy on some areas. 

This doesn’t mean you have to turn your garden into a jungle (unless you want to) but placing leaves and twigs in certain areas will become a habitat of many species. Also leaving perennials uncut over winter can be a shelter for hibernating insects. Plus leaving a patch of grass to grow a little taller is going to be a great shelter for small mammals voles and shrews.

Adapt Your Fence

Making your backyard an inviting wildlife place will require you to adapt your fence. Small animals like hedgehogs, shrews, and frogs won’t be able to come and join the party if they can’t get in, right? The simplest thing you can do is to make small gaps on the bottom of your fence that will be the entrance doors for different wildlife. 

Conclusion 

Starting a different kind of garden style like a wildlife garden will bring tremendous joy into your life. You will get the chance to know and nurture common species from your time. Observe them and see the world from another perspective. 

Having regular wildlife guests will certainly help you understand animals and witness the development of their daily lives. You’ll maybe even get the chance to see birds making their nests and having their little ones, their first attempt at flying, or see frogs sunbathing in your pond, watch dragonflies do their “dance” and so on. These everyday events will bring joy into your life and you will become a part of their world.