As you prepare your garden for spring, don’t forget about the many wildlife that will enjoy it too! Wildlife habitat is steadily disappearing, meaning wildlife themselves are declining as well. Habitat provides four necessities: food, cover, water, and space. Thankfully, there are some simple actions you can take to help meet the needs of wildlife in your area.
Water
All wildlife need water to survive, and you can provide this by setting up a bird bath or installing a water feature. Keep mosquitoes at bay by frequently changing the water in your bird bath and ensuring water is moving in water features. For bird baths, choose a hardy design that won’t crack in freezing weather and clean it often in the summer to prevent grime (this also helps with mosquitoes!).
Food & Cover
Plants serve a dual purpose of both food and cover for wildlife. To provide the most benefit to wildlife, plant a diverse range of varieties, choose native whenever possible, and avoid invasive plants that will disrupt your property’s ecosystem.
Some birds eat berries, others want nuts and seeds, and still others need flowers. A few top fruit producers for birds are dogwood, chokeberry, hawthorn, and viburnum. For nuts and seeds, plant oaks, maples, birches, coneflowers, and asters. Hummingbirds feed on tubular flowers such as butterfly weed, salvia, and native honeysuckle vine.
For pollinators, aim to have something blooming throughout the growing season to provide consistent support. Plant both woody (such as oak, willow, and hickory) and herbaceous plants (goldenrods, sunflowers, milkweed, etc.) for diversity. Trees also serve as a nesting location for mason and leaf cutter bees.
Space
You’ve supplied a water source, food, and cover, but what else can you do to make your outdoor space habitable for wildlife? Here are some suggestions:
- Rake leaves under shrubs
- Place nest boxes
- Remove invasive plants
- Reduce pesticide use, whenever possible
- Provide bird feeders
Final Thoughts
So far, we’ve focused on how you can support wildlife. But remember, this is a mutually beneficial relationship that will make your life easier too. A yard composed of primarily native plants requires less upkeep because natives are meant to live here. Diversity in plant varieties supports myriad wildlife while giving your landscape interest and reducing pest pressures. Water features can be beautiful and soothing to watch or listen to. Not to mention, it’s a joy to step outside and hear birds chirping or see butterflies flit between flowers.
Ready to welcome wildlife to your property? Visit these resources for more information:
- Planting for birds and pollinators: u.osu.edu/plantbynumbers
- Ohio wildlife conservation: u.osu.edu/wildside
- Installing water features: extension.psu.edu/water-for-wildlife-bird-baths-and-backyard-ponds
Thank you to Marne Titchenell, OSU Extension Wildlife Specialist, for providing information for this article. Article written by Natasha Atlas, Extension Educators Coordinator with OSU Extension Madison County. Have a gardening question? Send it to us by emailing whitman.179@osu.edu.