Make Your Garden a Wildlife Habitat
If you enjoy watching birds, bees and butterflies dine on the tasty plants in your garden, you’ll appreciate the National Wildlife Federation’s efforts promoting gardening doubles as wildlife habitats. May is Garden for Wildlife Month, and there are a couple of ways you can make your garden an “official” wildlife-friendly habitat.
Keep Charleston Beautiful has a program for Charleston Friendly Yards, which are sustainable, beautiful and environmentally friendly yards.
The five requirements for a Charleston Friendly Yard are:
1. Smart planting.
2. Water conservation.
3. Understanding soils and chemicals.
4. Limiting waste and pollution.
5. Providing for wildlife.
The National Wildlife Federation also offers a certified wildlife habitat is a “place that welcomes birds, butterflies and other local wildlife. All you need to do is provide the four elements animals need most: food water, shelter and places to raise young.”
Determine if your garden is ready for certification or find out how to make your garden more wildlife friendly from this list of NWF tips. You may look around your yard or garden and find you’re well on your way to having a certified wildlife habitat.
– Provide water for wildlife, such as ponds, lakes, springs or man-made water sources like rain gardens and bird baths.
– Provide food for wildlife, such as native shrubs and trees to provide foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts.
– Provide cover and a place where wildlife can raise their young, including bushes and dead trees.
Do you have a garden that provides a place for wildlife to thrive? Share some photos or tips with us?