Authored by Jules Muirhead. Photography by Julia Nemfield.
What is a Wildlife-Friendly Habitat?
Within hours of it being placed in Colleen’s garden, a downy woodpecker had found this cedar post suet feeder.
A wildlife-friendly habitat is a gardening design concept developed by the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) to inspire homeowners to use their outdoor living space as a safe and friendly environment for our wild friends. Creating healthy habitat in your yard is a chance to make a difference for the ecosystem you live in. Any small step to making your outdoor space a greener place can be essential for local and migratory species as our communities continue to be developed.
It is important that we look out for pollinating species as urban development continues to grow and more natural habitat is lost. It was determined by the National Academy of Sciences that around 75% of flowering plants on Earth rely on some degree of pollinators in order to set seed or fruit. A simple strategy for beginners to build a space for pollinators in their yard is to first focus on adding elements that host wildlife. All outdoor spaces can help wildlife, whether you are located on the shoreline, in the forest, or city center.
Plant an Edible Garden for Wildlife
We’ve learned that when it comes to birds, they are picky eaters. To attract the widest range of bird species it is essential to have different types of feeders that cater to each species beak shape and diet. This ensures that bigger birds are not scaring away smaller birds from your property. We recommend at least 3 different bird feeders. One for small birds like sparrows and chickadees with smaller beak holes and a mix of oil-based seeds. Another for larger birds like crows and blue jays with larger seeds. And finally, a wooden feeder with suet plugs is exciting for the active woodpeckers. Additionally, any plant with red blooms or red feeders will quickly attract the busy hummingbirds. Our favorite plants for hummingbirds include crocosmia and runner beans. Choose a diverse mix of seeds that provide adequate energy sources for birds all year round, especially throughout the winter months where seeds are difficult to find. Oil-based seeds, like sunflower, are recommended over grain-based seeds.
Perennial speedwell is a favorite plant for bees. This variety of speedwell in Colleen’s garden has remarkable ten inch (or longer) blooms.
The most beneficial food source for our beloved pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and wasps is to plant a variety of dense blooming flowers. Ensure that your garden has a variety of blooms at different times of the season. Native plants are ideal for feeding local wildlife, however bright colorful blooms always catch a bumble bee’s eye, so when in doubt, go bigger and brighter. It is recommended that your brightly colored flower blooms are planted in a minimum radius of 3 feet. This ensures that pollinators have an easier time finding the blooms during flight and share enough food to go around.
Different birds and pollinators have different food needs, therefore it is important to have a wide variety of native food sources on your property. Dense trees and shrubs are optimal for birds protection from predators. Flowering shrubs that produce fruits, nuts and berries are great sources of winter food. A variety of native perennials, shrubs, evergreens, and trees is the best way to ensure you provide optimal food, protection and habitat for wildlife. Additionally, you are benefiting the quality of the soil, air and climate when you build a biodiverse space.
Water For All
Wildlife, even insects, use water for bathing and drinking. It is ideal in a garden space with a diverse population of wildlife to have different year-round water sources. For birds, a shallow birdbath is perfect in the spring and summer, however, a heated birdbath is needed in the fall and winter. With all water sources, regularly refill/replace with fresh water, and clean the surfaces to remove harmful bacteria. Bird baths can be shared with pollinating insects, however, a small dish near a bee hive for example is preferred in order to allow the species to cohabitate. Position birdbaths in a highly visible area, close to dense foliage that can provide protection for bird species that may be oblivious to prey while enjoying a drink.
A wildlife friendly garden provides food and habitat for native bees, the majority of which live in the ground or hollow stems. Honey bee keeping is another garden activity that is increasingly popular. In this photo, Jules assembles a bee hive from Country Fields in Fall River. Learn more about bee keeping at www.nsbeekeepers.ca.
A Wildlife Sanctuary
When choosing elements for your wildlife to find a home in your natural environment, focus on protection, foraging and materials. Protection is easily found year-round in dense tree canopy and evergreen foliage. If this is not as accessible on your property, different types of wood houses, woody evergreen shrubs and leaf debris are great alternatives. When designing your outdoor space, a plant selection diverse in bright pollen-rich blooms, seed-producing trees and berry-producing shrubs is optimal to encourage foraging for wildlife. THE SHE SHED’S plant recommendations that provide beauty for you and food sources for wildlife are listed below. Finally, if natural elements such as mature deciduous and evergreen trees are difficult to incorporate into your property, basic wooden nest blocks create habitat for salamanders and snakes, bundles of hollow stems create hives for native bees, and native plants are a host for essential insects to lay eggs.
Gardening with the Future in Mind
THE SHE SHED practices and stands by ethical and sustainable gardening strategies. For wildlife, soil quality, and local water quality it is essential that your yard is a pesticide, insecticide, and synthetic fertilizer-free zones. Any synthetic products can be harmful and damaging to an animal or insect’s health. These products are absorbed into our soil and deplete essential nutrients for plant growth and development. Further, these products are absorbed into our waterways and accumulate in lakes and freshwater sources creating harmful algae and harming aquatic species. Instead of fertilizer try organic bone meal for root growth when you plant or transplant a plant. Instead of pesticides and insecticides try integrated pest management with the use of beneficial nematodes or a fatty acid spray. Use iron-based sprays for controlling weeds as opposed to harsh chemicals. There are many simple and affordable alternatives available to maintain your yard while prioritizing the health of the environment.
Echinecea or coneflower are beautiful perennials and one of Amy’s favorite to specify in garden designs.
We all know how essential adequate watering is to establish a new ornamental or edible garden. Try limiting your water usage with a rain barrel. It is important to consider the neighboring wildlife around your property and to take actions that protect the ecosystem you live in. Select native, hardy plants for your area so that new plants depend on water for a shorter amount of time as they are more likely to be drought tolerant. Mulch your garden with natural bark mulch that retains moisture and enriches the soil with micronutrients as it breaks down. Transition your lawn into a garden, that will eventually require no watering. Avoiding harsh chemicals and conserving water is one way to ensure we do not deplete the soil of its beneficial properties and life that depends on this resource.
Plants that we love for a biodiverse garden (native varieties in bold fonts):
- BERRIES
- Holly (M/F) (berries)
- Inkberry (berries)
- Cotoneaster (berries)
- Red balloon viburnum
- BLOOM
- Echinacea (bloom)
- Rudbeckia (bloom)
- Turtle head (bloom)
- Mountain laurel
- Creeping thyme
- Rugosa roses
- Heath/heather
- Allium
- Speedwells (Veronica)
- Russian sage