Katy Prentice
Peacock butterfly on budding flowers Katy Prentice
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Andrew Halstead
Common carder bee on dandelion flower Andrew Halstead
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Sheila Dearing
Blackbird having a bath in Herb Garden pond Sheila Dearing
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Winter pruning an apple tree Joanna Kossak
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Tim Sandall
Chitting potatoes Tim Sandall
How to plan your biodiverse garden
Planning with insects, beetles and bugs in mind is the key to a wildlife garden as they are the building blocks for biodiversity. If you provide for invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, bats, birds and small mammals will follow and before you know it, you have a biodiverse garden!
Even in the smallest garden, diversity can be achieved just by having a variety of plants – tall, medium and short growing, those with flowers at different times of year, evergreens and plants that die back in the winter, big leaves, small leaves and those that produce fruit, berries or seed. Plants that can supply several of these features are of most value, for example crab apples have nectar producing flowers in spring, fruit in autumn and a canopy for birds to sing from. Grasses will supply seed for hungry birds and cover for small mammals and winter flowering evergreen shrubs such as Sarcococca and Mahonia will provide nectar for insects (including early emerging bees), berries in autumn and shelter for all manner of creatures during the cold winter months.
RHS research has shown that butterflies, bees and hoverflies do not mind what type of plant their nectar and pollen comes from, as long as it is nutritious. However, native plants are important for the larvae of many insects; a sunny corner full of nettles will provide food for the caterpillars of red admiral, small tortoiseshell, painted lady, peacock and comma butterflies. If you don’t fancy nettles in the garden, many other native plants are very attractive, for example nectar rich honeysuckle is a valuable food source for butterflies and moths.
The key is to ensure you have lots of different habitats. Water is essential for life and a small pond or water feature becomes the focus of attention for birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Build the biggest pond you can in the space available and you will have endless pleasure in watching the comings and goings of your garden wildlife.
Even the smallest lawn can be turned into a meadow, but don’t forget that blackbirds like their grass short so that they can get to the worms easier. There is no shame in having a manicured lawn just so long as you do not use chemicals (even those that claim to be environment friendly).
You may not have room for a woodland, but a small group of shrubs and perhaps a tree or two will become a woodland edge for butterflies and moths. Create a wood or brash pile to provide more habitat for insects and hiding places for reptiles and amphibians. A pile of stone in a sunny place will be used by reptiles to warm themselves in spring.
If you have a fence between you and your neighbour, make sure there is a hedgehog size hole (about 13cm square) so that these endearing animals can move between your gardens searching for food – they roam on average 2km on a single night. Your fence can be covered in climbing plants to provide more habitat and flowers for insects and berries for birds – try Pyracantha, Lonicera or Cotoneaster.
All gardens have diverse habitats but you need to plan to optimise the potential of your garden to become a wildlife haven. For lots more great ideas on gardening for wildlife, visit rhs.org.uk/wildlife
Top tips for January/ February
Prune apple and pear trees grown as bush or standards. Aim to take between 10-20% off the overall canopy in any one winter. If the pruning pile is looking a little big, stop- you can always go back next year and do some more.
Cleaning greenhouses ready for spring will greatly improve the growing environment for plants. Removing algae,
moss and grime lets in more light and helps control pests and diseases too.
Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out.
Plan your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season to reduce a build-up of crop-specific disease problems and to organise groups of crops according to their needs.
Sow seeds of Begonia, Lobelia, Salvia and Pelargonium in a heated greenhouse or propagator to provide early plants. Sweet peas can be sown in January - place them on a sunny windowsill, or on a high shelf in the greenhouse that gets plenty of light.
Chit potato tubers in February, especially earlies.
Sheila Dearing Garden Technical Services Officer