Harvesting Sustainability: 5 Tips for a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Seed pods provide winter food for birds and small animals.
As autumn arrives, the garden begins its annual transition, with plants slowing their growth and preparing for winter’s rest. However, this season provides a perfect opportunity to implement sustainable gardening practices that not only support the health of your garden but also create a welcoming space for wildlife. By making small adjustments in your autumn gardening routine, you can create a thriving ecosystem that benefits birds, insects, and other creatures, all while keeping your garden in good shape for the spring.
One easy tip is to leave seedheads and dried flower stalks intact rather than cutting them back. Plants like coneflowers, sunflowers, and grasses provide valuable food sources for birds during the colder months, while also offering shelter for overwintering insects.
Allow fallen leaves to remain on garden beds or use them as mulch.* Leaves break down naturally, enriching the soil with nutrients and providing homes for beneficial critters such as earthworms and pollinators.
Create brush piles or leave some garden debris in a quiet corner, which offers a cozy habitat for small animals and amphibians.
Planting late-blooming perennials like asters or goldenrod, which offer nectar to pollinators still active in the fall.
Consider adding native shrubs that bear fruit, such as viburnum or winterberry, which provide food for birds throughout the winter.
By embracing these wildlife-friendly habits, your autumn garden will not only be more resilient and healthy but also contribute to the broader ecosystem, supporting local wildlife through the season’s changes.
Leola Young (with AI assistant)