You have created a garden that is not only a space you love to spend time in, but a place that is also wildlife friendly. It features a pond, birdhouses and feeders; which you constantly refill with birdseed from Kennedy Wild Bird Food, plus a birdbath, all of which will help them not only survive, but also thrive.

However, after making all these steps towards a wildlife friendly garden, do you think about the birds, mammals and insects that reside there, when you are gardening?

You may not even realise you are doing it, but every time you go out with your lawn mower and shovel, you could actually be destroying the area, that you have worked so hard to produce for them.

Image courtesy of Judy Kennett (Flickr)

So how do you garden with wildlife, and not against it?

Well, first of all put down the bug spray and stop seeing creepy crawlies as pests. There are actually benefits to keeping these bugs, and by trying to get rid of one pest you will ultimately wipe out lots of others.

Pesticides can kill or discourage the wildlife that you want to attract to your garden, including the predators that eat pests. Instead, leave the insects, birds and mammals to take care of it for you. If you feel compelled to use insecticides, make sure it doesn’t get into the pond, because it can poison water life and ensure it is disposed of properly when finished with.

Plan your plants with wildlife in mind. Choose plants that flower and produce seeds or fruit at different times of the year, so that your garden creatures have food in all seasons, including when it is harder to come by and when they have extra mouths to feed. Taller flowers, for example, will attract winged-friends from bees to dragonflies, and sunflowers are a particularly good idea as the seeds provide food for birds, once the flowers have died.

Before you hack away at the tree at the end of your garden, or even worse chop it down altogether, stop and think about the wildlife that visits your garden. Trees not only give birds somewhere to nest but they also provide fruit for foxes, badgers and even deer.

Likewise, hedges provide essential cover for small mammals, so simply give it a trim rather than cutting it right back. Don’t have a hedge in your garden? Perhaps think about planting one, if this is in the place of a fence it will allow easy access to your garden for the likes of hedgehogs.

Finally, longer grass is essential for egg-laying insects such as butterflies, so leave your lawn, or at least a section of your lawn slightly longer. Choose a spot at the end of the garden, perhaps next to the long grass and if you don’t already have one, start a compost pile. This will not only put your kitchen waste to good use, but will also offer a home to the likes of worms and frogs, as well as being a great source of nutrients for your garden.

The more you do to help the wildlife in your garden, the more they will do to help your green space flourish!