April in the wildlife garden…
This month is really the time when everything is springing (pun intended) to life! This year, quite unlike last year, the sun has been out and the rain has kept away. (Until today as I am writing this… but that’s ok), which has seen a lot of new growth on plants much earlier than the previous few years. Birds have been busy claiming territory and mates, bumblebees have come out of hibernation and the natural world has definitely woken up!
So what should we be doing in the wildlife garden other than watching in awe and wonder? Don’t worry- I am known for my lists around these parts and I have one for you below!
A patch of naturalised primrose, dog violet and lesser calendine
Sow/ plant wildflowers: Think about native annuals like Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and Teasel (Dipsacus pilosa- technically a biennial). Perennials like Musk mallow (Malva moschata), Field scabious (Knautia arvensis) and Wood crane’s bill (Geranium sylvaticum) are really great pollinators.
Annuals will be easier to start from seed by scattering on some bare earth (rake it back and don’t add any compost) where as some of the perennials might be best to buy as plugs… You might want to give some of ours a go hehe. Wildflower seed mixes are common these days. Make sure the mix is only of native UK species and sourced through ethical means- not over-foraged. You can create meadows in your lawn, borders or even in containers. Nowhere is too small a space for a little wildflower habitat.
Look after your soil! Turn your compost (slowly so as to give time for small mammals and amphibians to escape) and get any compost that looks ready out on your beds.
Try no dig- it is much better for the soil’s microbiome. Just place the compost on top and let the earthworms, fungi and soil micro-organisms do all the work. I do no-dig on my allotment and it produces big yields of all crops. Why dig when you don’t have to?! You can also mulch at this time- perhaps some well rotted bark, manure or other organic material that will help protect the soil, reduce runoff, keep moisture near the roots and provide some nutrients.
Lawns: Lawns are not wildlife’s best friend, but they are practical for many a human garden which needs to be multi-functional. You don’t have to have lawn in the traditional sense though. We are slowly coming around to the idea that a lawn can look multi coloured and multi layered. Grass kept short is basically a desert for wildlife. Mix up the heights of grass depending on needs. But also get some naturalisation going on. Species commonly known as ‘weeds’ such as dandelion, daisy and clover will often naturally find their way to your lawn space and are super beneficial for bees and pollinators making their way across the ‘empty’ space. Leave them there. Dandelions are completely edible and actually amazing little flowers when you look at them up close. Try to convince neighbours that your verge doesn’t need regular mowing and dandelions are a joyous pop of yellow, not the gardener’s enemy they have been cast as.
Pests: Like weeds, ‘pests’ need a reframing of how we think about them. Obviously some, like rats and mice are not ideal to have close to our home. But the fact of the matter is that any species we regard as a pest is not going away for good. That’s why we have a constant battle with them!
We really need to start thinking about pests as a part of the ecosystem and ideally, we need to increase the presence of their prey. So encourage all wildlife to your garden. Caterpillars and most ‘bugs’ are absolutely loved by many garden birds. Ladybird larvae feed on aphids. Are you providing a welcoming space for them? Variety is key and having a diverse range of plants with different flowering times (like the early flowering Primula vulgaris) and types will reduce easy predation from a lot of pests whilst also providing food, habitat and access for the animals that feed on them (birds, hedgehogs, foxes). Always think; how would nature deal with this?
Water saving: Now is the time to decide whether you have the right water collection and storage in place for summer. Everyone should have a water butt attached to their roof drainage system. If you have space- a larger tank is useful. It will really help your garden in the drier months as rainwater is much better than tap water for plants. Also, ponds should only ever be topped up with rain water.
Birds: Because I have become such a fan of swifts, I will mention here that THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY! They are flying back from Africa (having not touched the ground since leaving us last August) and should reach us in Cornwall by next month. They will be looking for homes in house cracks and crevices. They will likely return to the nest they inhabited last year (and I am so fortunate to have them nest on my street), but some of these will have since been sealed up. Please provide them a home by putting up a swift box. They might not make it their home for a while but don’t be disheartened. Better to have a space for them than not. Sparrows will likely use it if it isn’t occupied straight away. But that’s ok- sparrows are in decline too and swifts will take it from them if they like the look of it. You can get wooden ones from RSPB or make your own!
That’s all for this month, but always remember; make sure to offer food, clean water, access and shelter.
Feel free to ask any wildlife gardening questions here- I am more than happy to answer!
x
Jess
