Go Wild!
Right now we all need some relaxation therapy and what better way to get it than gardening? Being outdoors in nature is a proven stress buster and soil even contains microbes producing substances which increase our resilience to stress.
What’s more, natural habitats and species are under threat around the world. Us humans are inevitably connected to this biodiversity – think oxygen? Think land and ocean growing green plants. Think food? Think pollinators like bees, hover flies and other insects. You get the gist! Do your bit to promote biodiversity by starting close to home – even without a garden there are easy ways to help.
1. Try growing your own fruit and veg. Herbs and salad plants are easy and quick to grown and are foods often packed in unrecyclable plastic in the supermarket. Many fruits, veg, salad & herbs can be grown in containers in small spaces or windowsills. Some, like blueberries, are better in pots (cheaper and plastic free to grow your own too). Grow trailing fruit such as strawberries or tomatoes in hanging baskets. There are online courses available if you want to learn more about Organic growing and permaculture. The Royal Horticultural Society has a grow your own app with loads on tips and tools to help you. Try a Foragebom - a fun way to kick start a wild herb garden.
2. Look out for plant and seed swaps in your area, or set one up. Buy good quality organic seed where you can. Check out Vital Seeds for seed collecting guidance and gorgeous seed collections.
3. Reduce the hard surfaces in your garden like concrete, paving and decking and make them greener and plant/animal friendly. Grow a wildflower meadow instead of all close mown lawn or at least don’t mow off the dandelions and daisies. This helps with water absorption too, alleviating localised flooding. Green up remaining areas – grow thyme in paving spaces, add pots with flowers for pollinators, fruits, herbs/salad - handy to have close to the kitchen door.
4. If you have room, let parts of your garden ‘go’. Let grasses, ’weeds’ like nettles and wildflowers move in and encourage them by sowing seeds. Plant plants for pollinators – support bees, butterflies and hover flies with species stretching across the seasons. Here’s a suggested list of good plants for pollinators. Stop weeding, sit back, throw in a couple of seedboms and enjoy watching nature doing what it does best.
5. Cut the chemicals! Opt for organic gardening methods. Stop using slug pellets (they don’t just kill slugs) – sink slug traps and/or choose plants slugs don’t like. Cut herbicides and insecticides. Use a mix of white vinegar, salt and a little washing up liquid in a sprayer to tackle weeds when essential – spray early before insects are out foraging. If you really need an insecticide (really need) the Marseilles soap dissolved in water works well. Go careful with wood preservatives too. More biodiversity = more bug predators. A top tip from Susan over at Fresh Green Clean - use soda crystals and hot water to remove algae from slippery paving or decking. Sprinkle on, leave for an hour, and rinse off.
6.. To help the good bugs out encourage them to stay in your garden by creating 5 star accommodation for them. Encourage solitary bees, wasps and ladybirds (they all love to eat aphids) by leaving tall stalks over winter, create piles of dead wood in corners and provide bug hotels or bee B&B. Leaving seed heads makes good food for birds who are also great at picking off caterpillars so don’t deadhead fastidiously.
7. Look after overwintering hedgehogs by creating safe hibernation spaces (or hedgehog houses). They love eating slugs! Take care before lighting late autumn bonfires that hedgehogs are not nestled up in the bonfire base somewhere.
8. Make the most of vertical spaces and trees, with climbers, bird boxes and feeders. Grow climbing fruit on sunny walls, fences or trellis. Allow ivy some space to take over a wall or fence - it is brilliant early pollen for bees and a great habitat for birds.
9. Remember the birds – steer clear of trimming hedges and pruning trees at nesting time to avoid disturbance. Provide bird feeders, baths and nest boxes to encourage different species into your garden or local space. Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch each year to monitor your visitors. (scroll down for #10)
10. Compost plant based waste – peelings, cuttings and paper. Top 10 tips for home composting here. Don’t use peat based compost. Peatlands are an important habitat and when in good condition hold substantial quantities of carbon. In poor condition they release this to the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change. Make your own, avoid the plastic bags and save money too.
11. Make a pond to attract and support more wildlife. Insects, frogs and birds will love it. Add a gently sloping ramp out if it’s a larger pond to creatures like hedgehogs can climb out if they fall in.
12. Save water in butts and containers to use in dry spells rather than tap water. Whilst we have more than enough rain right now, Scottish Water only has access to about 5% of what falls. If we have longer, warmer summers we will need every drop.
13. Source plants in non plastic containers - or grow from seed to avoid them. Find a garden centre that will accept your plant pots back (like our collection partner Redhouse Nurseries!). If your further afield, ask your local garden centre to reuse pots. The more customers who ask for something the more likely retailers are to supply it. Demonstrate demand.
14. Borrow Equipment you use rarely and pick up second hand tools for regular use. Maintain tools and equipment so they last longer. Don’t leave them out in the garden in all weathers – store them clean and dry (I always do this, ahem, erm…)
!5. Upcycle old materials and objects to serve as wildlife shelter or planting containers. Broken tiles, slates, bricks, logs or clay pipe make fantastic habitats for all sorts of beasties. Use old boots, wellies, pans and basins as planters and cardboard loo roll centres are great for starting seeds off. Old pallets can be turned into a myriad of useful things
A great habitat for bugs, amphibians and pollinators like bees, hoverflies, moths and butterflies! This gabion wall creates a huge bug hotel and you can also plant it with wildflowers for extra brownie points with your local wildlife
We would love to hear your tips too. Let us know what else we can do in our gardens, greenspaces or window boxes in the comments below. Happy Gardening :-)