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Planning for your garden face-lift now

January 5, 2007 12:50 am

SPRING MAY SEEM a long way off, but at least daylight is actually increasing each day now. Despite the fact that our gardens are dormant and out of sight, they need not be out of mind. If your landscape needs a facelift this year, now is the time to start planning for it.

Whether you are thinking of a complete overhaul or just want to make a few changes, you might consider creating a backyard wildlife habitat. If you appreciate nature and enjoy having many of God's little creatures visit your yard, there is a special approach to landscaping your backyard.

Designing a landscape to attract birds and butterflies, insects and small mammals, adds a whole new dimension to your landscape. It is possible to have a beautiful yard that is wildlife-friendly, as well.

There are just three easy steps to implementing a wildlife habitat in your yard:

The first thing you need to do is identify the habitat elements that already exist in your yard. You probably already have several elements present in your backyard. Inventory all the plants that are growing in your backyard, including trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses.

If you find that many of your plants are native to Virginia, you may have less to replant than you think. Many native plants provide food, such as fruit, nuts, seeds and nectar for our native wildlife. Native plants also provide safe cover or nesting places.

Another important element for wildlife is dead or dying trees. If you can leave them without causing a hazard or complaints from your neighbor, they are excellent habitat features. Woodpeckers and squirrels will excavate them and use them for shelter, as well as a multitude of insects and cavity nesting birds such as wrens, bluebirds, chickadees and owls.

Make a list of structures that provide habitat elements, such as bird feeders, nesting structures, rock walls or brush piles.

Also note physical and environmental features such as soil conditions, hours of direct sunlight and wind exposure.

Provide the basic elements

The four basic elements for wildlife survival are food, water, cover and places to raise young. As stated earlier, native plants are an important source of food for wildlife. Birds, butterflies, insects and mammals are adapted to the native flora in an area. Restoring native plant communities should be the main emphasis in creating a wildlife habitat. Choose plants that provide nourishment throughout the year.

Another benefit of planting native plants is that they will need less maintenance, fertilizer, pesticides and water to thrive. This will result in cost savings as well as a healthier environment.

Water is critical for wildlife to drink, bathe and, in some cases, breed. A birdbath, a small pond, a reticulating waterfall or a small dish can provide water. By whatever means that water is provided, remember that it must be available year-round. Winter is an especially important time to make water available for wildlife. Placing a thermostatically controlled heater in a birdbath is an easy way to ensure a constant water supply.

Good cover is necessary to provide year-round protection and to provide nesting sites. Good plant choices are juniper, holly and live oak. Rock, log and mulch piles will provide homes for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and a great variety of insects.

Providing a place for wildlife to raise their young is a basic element often overlooked by native habitat enthusiasts. Dead and dying trees called "snags" are excellent nesting sites for owls, flying squirrels and other cavity dwellers. Rabbits, shrews, field mice, snakes and salamanders need rock, log, mulch or brush piles to lay their eggs or build nests to raise their young.

Building nest boxes to correct dimensions will attract bluebirds, wrens, purple martins and chickadees. Aquatic environments such as ponds or wetlands are important for frogs, toads, newts, and insects such as dragonflies and damselflies.

A wildlife habitat would not be complete without a butterfly garden. A successful butterfly habitat includes not only flowering plants for the adult butterflies to feed on their nectar, but also host plants for the larval stage. Each species has specific plants that they prefer to lay their eggs on for the caterpillars to feed. In most cases, the larval plants are different than the nectar plants for the adults. When planning your butterfly garden, it is best to plant the host plants and the nectar plants in masses. This will help adult butterflies detect them.

This is an important step for a healthy wildlife habitat and environment. Resource conservation can be achieved by:

Reducing lawn area to cut down on water use

Capturing roof water to irrigate planted areas

Establishing a wetland to limit runoff and filter storm water

Using natural predators to reduce pesticides

Using a mulching mower to eliminate the need to rake grass clippings

Starting a compost pile to recycle plant wastes

Using organic instead of chemical fertilizers

Not planting invasive species

Simplifying your landscape to reduce maintenance.

Other conservation ideas can be realized by using a little common sense and by developing sensitivity for the environment. By planting a wildlife habitat in your backyard, you will be joining millions of homeowners nationwide in creating an oasis of nature in your own community.

For more information on creating a backyard wildlife habitat, please contact me.