Although you probably like to keep control over what's happening in your garden, you shouldn't ignore the beauty of some wildlife gardening. All it takes is a little forethought to add a new dimension to your gardening pleasure. And by doing so, you'll employ an army of soldiers in the endless battle against pests.
By Esmee McCornall
Click this link to watch the WildLife Gardening video
Too many unwanted bugs in your garden? Encourage some birds to nest in your garden! A single pair will stuff more thousands of those unwanted guests down the expectant throats of their chicks. More good news: they will do so at a critical time of year. You know, when the bugs are warming up to attack your fruit blossom and emerging vegetables. And here's the even better news: with such a convenient supply of baby food, many species will be encouraged to have a second brood of chicks, so you gain twice over!
Encouraging birds to nest in your garden isn't hard at all. In fact, it's a matter of bribery. Feed them through the leaner winter months they'll stick around when you need them most. To be sure, you might consider to provide suitable nesting boxes and continue to make food available to the adults. It's an offer they just can't refuse...
Whatever you do, don't underestimate the importance of keeping the food-supply for the grown-up birds in tact. Having their own food available allows them to spend all their time scouring your garden of unwanted bugs for their offspring. Sure, you'll have to spend some dimes to buy bird seeds. It's an investment that pays off well. And remember you are saving money on pesticides. Besides, you gain immeasurably by the knowledge no chemical squirts have touched the fruit and other goodies growing in your garden.
No nest boxes yet? They are available in all colors, shapes and sizes. But they all have one thing in common: and that is the need for great care about their location.
Nest boxes must never be placed where the full, hot mid-day sun can touch them. Don't follow that rule and you end up 'cooking' the chicks. Bad karma! The best position is in a shady area, facing the western sunset. Oh, and hang'm high! Make sure your nest boxes are out of reach for your area’s hungry four legged predators.
Frogs can drive you nuts, I know. But... frogs (or any other amphibians) have a taste for slugs and other vegetable eating pests. So if you can stand the noise, a small investment in a wildlife pond in a quiet (I'd say remote!) corner of your garden will pay handsome dividends. Whilst they might lurk in the pond all day in a soporific stupor -- don't be fooled. Come nightfall, your frogs will be off for a night on the town to dine out on the slugs and other pests. Right, the slugs and pests that where getting ready for a night on the town themselves with your carefully cultivated cabbages as dinner...
It can be done quick and dirty. A wildlife pond doesn't have to be pretty. A shallow depression a foot or so deep with gently sloping sides, lined with a piece of butyl rubber and with a few oxygenating plants (ubiquitous Canadian Pondweed) will do just fine. And believe me: they will come! You'll be amazed how quickly the pond life will move in. Even in an urban area.
So here you go... Birds tackling the bugs during the day and the frogs doing the night shift. All you have to do is enjoy your garden. Well, almost :)
Click this link to watch the WildLife Gardening video
By Esmee McCornall
Click this link to watch the WildLife Gardening video
Too many unwanted bugs in your garden? Encourage some birds to nest in your garden! A single pair will stuff more thousands of those unwanted guests down the expectant throats of their chicks. More good news: they will do so at a critical time of year. You know, when the bugs are warming up to attack your fruit blossom and emerging vegetables. And here's the even better news: with such a convenient supply of baby food, many species will be encouraged to have a second brood of chicks, so you gain twice over!
Encouraging birds to nest in your garden isn't hard at all. In fact, it's a matter of bribery. Feed them through the leaner winter months they'll stick around when you need them most. To be sure, you might consider to provide suitable nesting boxes and continue to make food available to the adults. It's an offer they just can't refuse...
Whatever you do, don't underestimate the importance of keeping the food-supply for the grown-up birds in tact. Having their own food available allows them to spend all their time scouring your garden of unwanted bugs for their offspring. Sure, you'll have to spend some dimes to buy bird seeds. It's an investment that pays off well. And remember you are saving money on pesticides. Besides, you gain immeasurably by the knowledge no chemical squirts have touched the fruit and other goodies growing in your garden.
No nest boxes yet? They are available in all colors, shapes and sizes. But they all have one thing in common: and that is the need for great care about their location.
Nest boxes must never be placed where the full, hot mid-day sun can touch them. Don't follow that rule and you end up 'cooking' the chicks. Bad karma! The best position is in a shady area, facing the western sunset. Oh, and hang'm high! Make sure your nest boxes are out of reach for your area’s hungry four legged predators.
Frogs can drive you nuts, I know. But... frogs (or any other amphibians) have a taste for slugs and other vegetable eating pests. So if you can stand the noise, a small investment in a wildlife pond in a quiet (I'd say remote!) corner of your garden will pay handsome dividends. Whilst they might lurk in the pond all day in a soporific stupor -- don't be fooled. Come nightfall, your frogs will be off for a night on the town to dine out on the slugs and other pests. Right, the slugs and pests that where getting ready for a night on the town themselves with your carefully cultivated cabbages as dinner...
It can be done quick and dirty. A wildlife pond doesn't have to be pretty. A shallow depression a foot or so deep with gently sloping sides, lined with a piece of butyl rubber and with a few oxygenating plants (ubiquitous Canadian Pondweed) will do just fine. And believe me: they will come! You'll be amazed how quickly the pond life will move in. Even in an urban area.
So here you go... Birds tackling the bugs during the day and the frogs doing the night shift. All you have to do is enjoy your garden. Well, almost :)
Click this link to watch the WildLife Gardening video
Wildlife Gardening - let nature take care of itself
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