How to create a habitat garden
Every garden is part of the habitat ‘big picture’ from a balcony to big garden we can all provide habitat.
Local wildlife need indigenous plants for food, shelter (from predators, competitors or the weather), or somewhere safe to perch or breed.
Likewise, indigenous plants benefit from wildlife through pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, waste breakdown and soil maintenance.
The key to developing a thriving habitat garden is to add the elements of: food, water, shelter and layers.
Food
A wide variety of food sources in your garden will create a healthy food chain for wildlife.
Food sources include:
- Plant leaves, seeds, pollen and roots
- Dead plant material
- Small invertebrates such as caterpillars, insects, spiders and worms
- Small wildlife such as birds, lizards and frogs.
Resist the temptation to put out bird feeders as this can make wildlife sick.
Water
All wildlife need a reliable water source, particularly in summer.
Wildlife use different water sources such as:
- a birdbath on a pedestal
- a hanging birdbath with sticks or rocks
- a dish of water on the ground with sticks or rocks
- a shallow dish of damp sand
- a frog pond.
Provide protection by surrounding bird bath with dense prickly plants. Butterflies and bees cannot swim so provide a stick or rock to the bird bath so they can climb out.
Shelter
Native wildlife needs to find shelter from bad weather and predators. They also need a safe place to rest and raise their babies.
Wildlife need:
- dense or prickly medium shrubs
- tall trees and medium shrubs
- bark crevices in trees
- the underside of broad leaves
- under tussocky grasses
- small logs on the ground
- a pile or rocks or pavers
- an insect hotel.
Layers
A wildlife-friendly garden has multiple layers for different wildlife with a mix of:
- trees
- medium shrubs
- small shrubs
- grasses
- groundcovers
- logs and sticks
- rocks
- mulch.
Try and plant three or more different species from each garden layer to suit different wildlife.