Photo by Adrien Olichon on Unsplash
Many people dream of doing more to help the environment, but actually putting a plan into action is more difficult. It requires the coordination of many people, including local officials, neighbours, residents, homeowners associations, landowners, and so on.
The good news, though, is that if you own a property, you can do a lot of things to turn it into a nature refuge. This supports biodiversity and helps insects, birds, and other wildlife. It also emphasizes using native plants and reducing the CO2 burden of your property considerably.
But what can you do to turn your property into a nature reserve? Let’s take a look.
Prioritise native plants
As mentioned, one of the first things you’ll want to do is prioritize native plants. Most eco-friendly and sustainable gardeners aim for 70% native, with the rest being able to come from outside the area. When you plant co-evolved species next to each other, they reinforce the local ecosystem and allow it to flourish. For example, one of the best things to do is replace turf grass with natural native ground covers. This can include things like meadows or layered planting. You could also plant for diversity, for example, bee balm and milkweed provide nectar-rich flowers for insects. You could also add seed-producing plants for small mammals and other insects and berry bushes with fruit and nut trees for birds. Just make sure you layer your landscape:
- Canopy level
- Mid-level shrubs
- Low perennials
If you need to work with an arborist to make this happen, then do so. Get somebody in who can plan the outline of your garden and help you create various levels that will serve you.
Provide food sources
As mentioned, it’s also a good idea to provide food sources, such as:
- Natural plants (native plants can be a source of nuts, berries, seeds, pollen, and nectar)
- Bird feeders around your garden (these usually contain seeds or suet)
Don’t use any pesticides or herbicides in your garden to reduce damage to the biodiversity. Pesticides will obviously kill insects which are critical for the food chain. If you notice pests entering the area, try to introduce their natural predators, such as ladybirds, which are very good for dealing with aphids.
Use clean water
It’s sad that in our world we have to emphasise this point, but using clean water in your garden is critical. If you can filter it before it arrives from the main supply, then you can remove damaging chemicals, including hormones and pesticides. When you add water, add it in the form of a bird bath or a small wetland area. These tend to attract the most amount of biodiversity by providing wildlife with the facilities it needs to thrive.
During the winter, make sure water doesn’t freeze over. If it does, break the ice.
Offer shelter
Finally, make sure you’re offering shelter. You want brush piles, thickets, den shrubs, and evergreens to provide some species with protection from predators. Reptiles and small mammals love these hidden spaces.