Whether it’s an urban planting project, a small patio or a stretched lawn: there are many small things you can do to attract more wildlife to your garden. It will help local species survive and thrive – and allow you to enjoy the life they bring to a garden.

Are you looking to attract more wildlife to a garden? These are our top tips!

Nothing as important as the use of native plants in a landscape design. They’re perfectly adapted to the local environmental conditions and therefore require less water and maintenance. Native plants can help decrease pollution due to the eliminated need for mowers and provide vital habitat for insects, birds and other species of wildlife.

Plants such as the Agastache Beelicious® Purple, Anemone Pink Cloud and Delosperma Wheels of Wonder® are known for their attractive power towards butterflies and bees.

Whether you put up nesting boxes to encourage birds to breed or plant plenty shrubs to create natural hide-outs: providing shelter will make wildlife feel welcome and protected. Shrubs such as the Cornus Flower Tower and the Viburnum Coppertop make great habitats for wildlife. Besides that, they also make for an aesthetically pleasing landscape design.

 

Not only native plants, but native trees will help attract local wildlife. They provide a nesting place for birds and a shelter for squirrels. Planted together, they create woodland for an even wider range of wildlife. Native fruit trees such as the Vaccinium corymbosum BonBonBerry® Blue Suede or Rubus idaeus Groovy will even supply the needed food for all sorts of wildlife – or the ingredients for an amazing smoothie!

A full-grown hedge will provide even more nesting areas, all while sheltering the garden and providing the needed privacy. Climbers such as the Clematis Amber will draw both insects and birds, whereas hedge plants such as the Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ provide the needed shelter.

 

Wildlife needs shelter, food: and water. A pond or water feature is a great way to encourage wildlife into the backyard. It will diversify the ecosystem and attract an even wider range of wildlife.

Design an area specifically for wildflowers to attract wildlife to your garden: especially butterflies and bees. Wildflowers such as the Calendula hybrid Winter Wonders® Peach Polar (the flowers are edible as well) or the Bidens Fire Wheel or Funny Honey will do well in almost every garden design.