Creating an Appealing Habitat for Wildlife in Your Backyard
A wildlife habitat provides food, water, shelter, and space arranged to meet the needs of wildlife. No matter what size, your yard can be landscaped to attract birds, small animals, beneficial insects, and butterflies. Trees, shrubs, and other plants in your yard can provide shelter and food for a wide range of wildlife.
The plants you use to provide food and cover will play a large part in determining the specific wildlife species that might be attracted to your backyard. Adding nesting boxes, feeders, and watering sites, such as fountains and garden ponds, can greatly improve the habitat.
Initial planning is an important step in providing an inviting and productive backyard wildlife habitat. Remember that you have both a horizontal area to work with (the surface area of your yard) as well as a vertical area that reaches from the ground to the treetops. This vertical area is made up of four distinct zones: — the canopy formed at the top of the tallest tree branches — understory vegetation such as lower tree branches, smaller trees, shrubs, and vines — the floor which is often dominated by low-growing ground covers such as flowers, grasses, and mosses, and — the basement where a variety of organisms live in the soil. Different wildlife species call each of these zones home, so a wide range of habitats can be provided on even a small backyard.
Trees and shrubs are the backbone of any landscaping design. But they are also important for wildlife shelter. Many tree and shrub species are excellent sources of food for wildlife. Proper selection of plantings can meet both the aesthetic needs of the homeowner and the food and shelter needs of wildlife. Remember that you are are also part of the habitat!
A word about native vs exotic plants Native plants are better for the habitat than exotic plants, generally requiring less fertilizer and other additives, less water, and less effort in pest control. They are especially important to native wildlife, such as pollinators, that may have co-evolved with a particular native species. Pollinators often rely on a certain type of flower as a source of food, while the flower depends on the pollinator to transport its pollen to other flowers for reproduction.
Non-native plants in a backyard habitat can damage the delicate balance of the local ecosystem. All too often they can even crowd out native species to the point of extinction. Local wildlife benefit more when native plants remain in place, or are restored to their natural habitats, thus providing the best source of food for local animals.
When you begin developing your wildlife habitat you may want to consider including garden water fountains or garden waterfallsto make your backyard habitat more inviting not only for you and your family but also for your wildlife.
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