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Do you realize that nowadays, the existence of hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies is disappearing? Not only them, but fireflies, squirrels, and even frogs are also rarely seen. It is understandable since their habitat is also slowly decreasing. In fact, they have an essential role in maintaining the ecosystem. Some of them are beneficial pollinators for flowers to promote fruiting and blossoming. One of the ways we can do this is by creating a wildlife habitat in your garden. We have some of the best wildlife garden ideas you can try!
Besides attracting bees and butterflies to your garden, these ideas are great for creating a biodiversity garden if you grow native plants. You can also consider a garden design with bird feeders, bird baths, and butterfly and bee nests to build safe shelters for this wildlife.
Interested in having a wildlife garden design in your outdoor space? Take a look at our wildlife garden ideas below!
What Is The Importance of Wildlife Gardening?
The reduction in the existence of wildlife is ultimately the result of the loss of their native habitats. If they lose their place to live, they are highly likely to lose their food sources to thrive. Consequently, they will gradually go extinct. One of the beneficial insects that are rarely seen is the firefly.
Therefore, sustainable gardening with a native wildlife garden is a brilliant idea to overcome this problem. You can plant native plants and flowers that invite birds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators to enhance the biodiversity in your small wildlife garden.
Additionally, these plants for wildlife will give them a food source, such as nectar, to grow. This wild garden also provides a comfortable shelter for them in bad weather. As a bonus, you will enjoy the beauty of nature by seeing those animals hanging around in the wild garden.
What Is The Basic Need for Wildlife In Landscape?
Like humans, wildlife needs a source of food, water, and habitat with adequate space to live. By encouraging native plant gardening for wildlife, you can help provide for their basic needs. Consider making a garden design that can invite them to your outdoor space.
For example, installing bird baths and feeders to attract birds. It is also recommended to have an edible wildlife garden where you grow fruit trees, like crabapples, to feed the birds. At the same time, bees and butterflies can pollinate the flowers.
Meanwhile, a wildlife pond will invite frogs and crickets to hang around your small wildlife garden, making a relaxing sound at night. We highly recommend building a nesting place from wood around the trees in your pollinator-friendly garden for them to take shelter.
How Do You Plan A Wildlife Garden?
You know that the basis of having a garden for wildlife is providing food, water, and shelter for them. From this point, you can start determining what kind of wildlife landscape design you want to make.
Whether it is an urban or modern setting, there are some things you must include in your wildlife yard design. What are those?
1. Growing Native Plants
Native plants are great for your pollinator-friendly garden, especially if you grow fragrant, nectar-producing flowers. They will be a favorite source of food for bees and butterflies. Besides, they can help pollinate, ensuring the flowers bloom every season.
We also recommend growing diverse flowers with various shapes and colors, as each will attract different pollinators and insects. Now you know that plant selection is crucial!
2. Set Up Bird Feeder
Birds often have difficulty getting food, especially in winter, when the crops are frozen. In this case, you can help them by creating a bird-friendly garden design with a bird feeder. You may fill it up with seeds or grains to feed them.
As for hummingbirds, it would be best to install a nectar feeder where you can add sugar solution instead of nectar. Hang it on your patio or trees in a garden for wildlife.
3. Compost Your Soil
Apart from pollinators, beneficial insects, and birds, you must not forget other animals that help you to keep the soil fertile. Yep, the worms! They will be happy if you give them compost rich in organic matter.
Besides earthworms, slugs and snails will appreciate this treat! Besides, they will do the job of savoring soil-borne pests, like ground beetles.
4. Don’t Install Too Many Garden Lights
Remember when we discussed fireflies? In addition to the lack of food sources, these beautiful insects have rarely been seen anywhere recently due to light pollution. It is unfortunate that fireflies are beneficial in controlling slugs, snails, and other insect pests in your garden.
Besides fireflies, too much light will bother bats that usually do the job of pollinating fruit trees. If you want to install one, have them on the ground and choose a warm tone.
5. Add Water Features
Water features are essential to include while designing a wildlife yard design. They offer beauty in your garden and provide water for wildlife to drink and dip in on hot summer days.
You can build a small pond near your low maintenance wildlife-friendly garden or set up a bird bath for your avian friends to swim. We also recommend a tiny fountain to arrange a modern garden with warm lights around. Add fish to increase biodiversity in your wildlife garden.
Pollinator-Friendly Garden
What do pollinators love when it comes to food? Pollen and nectars! So, to build a pollinator-friendly garden, you must include flowers as a food source. Thus, bees and butterflies will not hesitate to revisit your garden over and over again. Or perhaps, make it their habitat for life.
Besides, the flower garden will also decorate your yard with colorful shades. Wanna have one? Take a look at these wildlife garden ideas for your pollinator friends!
1. Butterfly Nesting Garden
Are you a fan of butterflies but a little bit sad when they don’t appear as frequently as they used to? Invite them into your garden by growing this little flower garden in your backyard! You can start by planting flowers that attract pollinators, such as sunflowers, Black-eyed Susans, or asters.
Then, build their nests or buy them as you wish. Next, make a wooden frame to support the tiny houses on top of the butterfly garden. You can also set up a mini bird feeder if you wish to have birds hanging around in this spot.
2. Small Bird Bath Garden
Water-wise gardening is now popular to reduce water use in the garden. And the good news is that you can adopt this idea to make a small bird bath garden! All you need to do is arrange limestone to create a dry creek or stream. Then, grow flowers as the edging and border between the grass and the settings.
Now, set up a bird bath at the end of the dry bed and install two bird feeders along the creek. We also recommend arranging nectar feeders for hummingbirds so they can enjoy their visits to your bird garden.
3. Countryside Flower Garden
If you love a countryside garden setting full of flowers, this flower garden design will be your instant favorite! It features diverse blooms with colorful tones to elevate your outdoor space. Since they have flowers, butterflies, and bees will be absolutely eager to hang around this area to suck on nectars or feed on the pollen.
We suggest you grow trees, like oaks or crabapples, to provide shade and invite more wildlife to your garden. Consider having a set of chairs and a table to enjoy late afternoon or night talk with your families in this spot.
4. Standing Flower Baskets with Bird Feeder
No worries if you have limited space in your backyard. You can still build simple, standing flower baskets to lure pollinators to your garden. The key is to choose the right plants to grow. We strongly recommend growing lantana in hanging containers as they are loved by butterflies.
Not only that, but these flowers bring colorful blooms to decorate your garden. Meanwhile, you can plant floss flowers, asters, or black-eyed Susan at the bottom. Also, install two or three bird feeders on the stand to invite your avian friends.
5. Native Pollinator Garden
Flower gardens are heaven for pollinators. They provide food, pollen, and nectars for them to thrive. Birds, butterflies, and bees also help flowers to bloom as they pollinate them while feeding on the pollen. Therefore, you can create a dense flower garden in your backyard to lure them into your outdoor area.
Nevertheless, it will be best to grow the native ones as they help increase biodiversity. It is also easier for pollinators to recognize such blooms because they come from the same area. To make this garden look aesthetically pleasing, grow the flowers alternately with different colors and shapes.
6. Bees Water-Wise Garden
In addition to flower gardens, you can also combine the blooms with your veggies. Depending on the varieties, they can make great companion plants to attract pollinators while repelling pests.
Try to grow lavender, marigolds, or other flower-attracts bees near the veggies. Consider having different blooms to create a colorful spot. Also, incorporate the water-wise gardening area with gravel and stone as the border. In addition, we recommend arranging a bird bath and nectar feeder to lure the birds, butterflies, and bees to your wildlife garden.
7. Vibrant Flower Landscaping for Pollinators
Use raised beds for flower landscaping if you have a limited area to attract pollinators. You can use wooden boxes and fill them with potting soil to plant the blooms. We recommend growing lantana as they have colorful shades that will look stunning against the green background from the leaves.
Besides, they are also one of the pollinators’ favorite to feed on the nectars. Furthermore, spread gravel at the base to cover the soil. Also, give space from one bed to another to prevent pest transfer.
8. Bird-Friendly Lavish Garden
Do you want to have singing hummingbirds flying around your garden? Build a bird-friendly garden! It is easy and will not rip out of your pocket money. Prepare the flowers and plants you want to grow. Since you want to invite hummingbirds, perennials like lupines, daylilies, and columbines are the best choices.
Grow them separately and give a stone border at the base. Now, install a bird bath with a mini fountain and bird and nectar feeder to each area. In addition, consider planting native trees to provide them a nesting place.
9. Flower Haven by The Lake
Take advantage of empty space by the lake to arrange a flower garden. Instead of planting non-native plants, native flowers flourish best as they are used to the growing conditions. Grow diverse flowers alternately with different tones.
It will make an exquisite appeal and provide the butterflies with yummy nectars from various blooms. Consider ornamental grasses to add textures to this area. Moreover, install string lights with warm tones across the garden to light it up at night while keeping it friendly for fireflies.
Wildlife Pond Garden
Consider water features, like pond garden wildlife, if you want to attract wildlife to your garden. They will take advantage of these spots to drink and take a dip. You can also release some fish in the pond to kill mosquito larvae, eliminate mosquito larvae and thus reduce their presence in your garden.
Meanwhile, the frogs will be happy to visit the pond and make it their habitat. Take a look at our curated picks to inspire you to start your sustainable gardening!
10. Rock-Themed Pond Garden
Who would have thought rock gardening could be combined with a wildlife pond? It will offer textures that adorn this water feature. In addition, rocks provide a foothold for frogs when they are done swimming.
Take this opportunity to arrange the stones along the pond edge and grow native plants along the line. Try planting flowers and green plants to create a stunning view. It will be best to have floating tulips too! Spread gravel at the base to avoid water logging when it is raining.
11. Frog-Friendly Pond Landscape
Apart from functioning as a water feature, the pond can also be a natural habitat for frogs and fishes. If you want such a landscape with a pond in your garden, you can adopt this frog-friendly garden idea. You don’t need a large space; use a small area in your backyard.
Then, arrange rocks at the end of the pond and grow grasses around for the frogs to hang out. We also recommend planting tall flowers like lupines to bring nature vibes and feed hummingbirds. To enjoy this sight, set up a wooden bench near the pod.
12. Stunning Wildlife Home Garden
Provide drinking sites for wildlife by building a pond in your backyard. Use rocks to make the border with grasses and prevent the water from spilling from the pond. You can grow water lilies that float to offer space for the fish to hide from the scorching sun.
Besides, their leaves work great for the frogs to hang out. In addition, we recommend planting low-growing flowering plants on the pond’s edge to decorate the pond. However, choosing those that attract pollinators, such as phlox, will be better.
13. Impressive Summer Pond Garden
This summer pond garden is excellent for those who have extensive gardens. Like other wildlife garden ideas, it uses rocks and gravel to border the surrounding green grasses. In addition, these stones also give a natural feel like natural streams. You can adorn the edge with flowers that can lure pollinators into this area.
We also love putting fish in the pond to create a lively wildlife garden atmosphere. To invite more birds to this spot, install a bird feeder. So, they can dip and have a yummy meal before flying.
14. Green Wildlife-Friendly Garden
In addition to flowers, some homeowners prefer green plants to grow around their ponds because they are low-maintenance. Even though they may not attract butterflies and bees, these greeneries will lure dragonflies into flying around the garden.
Consider growing water lilies, lotus flowers, eelgrass, and water pondweed in this area if you enjoy sighting dragonflies. Besides, water lilies and lotus flowers are unique natural ways to suppress algae growth in your ponds.
15. Tiny Wildlife Pond Setting
You can even use a patch of land to build a tiny wildlife pond. The point is how to decorate this area to invite wildlife into your garden. Despite the fantastic flowers that attract pollinators’ attention, tall water plants can also attract other insects to visit, such as dragonflies. You can, for example, plant water horsetails with unique stems that these flying insects use to protect them from the sun.
Also, consider water lilies if you are concerned about algae in your pond. Arrange light-colored river stones on one side of the pond to make it look more appealing.
16. Stunning Blue Pond Garden Ideas
If all this time you’ve generally found a pond with a kind of brown or simply clear water color, consider having one with blue water. You can add a pond enhancer that contains beneficial bacteria to keep the pond blue and clean.
To attract more wildlife, you can grow irises, whose purple flowers add beautiful tones to this setting. Besides, they are great for attracting bees as the flowers are rich in nectar. Next, arrange rockery stones for lining your pond and bring nature vibes into your backyard.
17. Residential Pond Garden Design
Your avian and pollinator friends will appreciate this pond in your yard. It is small yet has a perfect size to dip and drink. Meanwhile, the flowers are a haven for butterflies and bees to feed on nectar and pollen.
Nonetheless, we prefer adding more blooms with different shapes, scents, and heights to provide options for the pollinators to savor. Besides, alternate planting is fantastic for decorating this water feature. Remember to line the pond with rocks to make it more eye-catching.
Low Maintenance Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Since you will mainly grow native plants for wildlife-friendly gardens, they are generally low-maintenance. You can use gravel, rocks, grasses, flowers, and trees to create a comfortable space for wildlife to hang around. As a bonus, you will have a colorful garden filled with butterflies, bees, and birds happy to fly and pollinate flowers growing in your outdoor area.
In case you need some inspiration to design your wildlife garden with a limited budget, we have the best low-maintenance wildlife garden ideas you can try! Check them out below!
18. Backyard Wildlife Garden Design
The backyard is the right area to create a low-maintenance wildlife garden design. The vast area provides space to grow flowers and plants that attract butterflies and bees in your garden. In case you have a low budget, native flowers will be your ultimate pick. They are easy to grow and find in nurseries and, of course, easy to maintain.
Choose ones with a wide range of colors and heights. That way, you can have a cottage-like garden with various textures. Don’t forget to set up a long wooden bench to enjoy the stunning sight.
19. Simple Wildlife Outdoor Garden
The previous idea requires a large space to make one, but this simple outdoor wildlife garden is a gem for those with limited areas. You can simply arrange a plot of land to plant sunflowers, favorite butterflies, and bees, to suck on nectars.
Apart from that, you can install a mini wooden house for the birds nesting site, especially in rough weather, like winter. In addition, set up a bird bath for your avian friends to dip, drink and play around. Also, compost the soil to feed the earthworms and ensure the flowers thrive well.
20. Rustic Wildlife Garden Setting
Those living in the countryside will love this wildlife garden setting. It is so simple, low-maintenance, and will not cost you much money. You only need to prepare flowers of your choice. But if you ask us, we prefer growing flower-attracting butterflies and bees, like sunflowers.
Alternatively, unlike sunflowers, you can try black-eyed susan, which doesn’t need support. After that, border the planting spot with stones. You may grow lavenders for the companion plants to add other shades to your rustic-themed garden.
21. DIY Wildlife Garden Shed
Don’t let your garden shed be wasted! Explore your creativity by turning it into a wildlife-friendly garden that lures pollinators and dragonflies to visit this outdoor space. Unlike other wildlife garden ideas that highlight flowers, you can make an edible garden by planting vegetables instead.
Pick ones that attract bees, such as peppers, tomatoes, beans, and peas. You can grow them in pots and arrange them against the garden fence. For the fruits, consider berries and melons! As an additional touch, setting up a garden path with stones will be a great idea!
22. Modern Wildlife-Friendly Garden
Unlike the previous idea, this one highlights a minimalist and colorful setting that will suit those with modern home designs. However, it is considered low-maintenance because the types of flowers planted do not vary.
You can take advantage of their colorful blooms to grow them alternately, so they don’t look boring to see. Also, install bird feeders around to invite them to your garden. Meanwhile, the butterflies and bees will be happily sucking on the blooms.
23. Minimalist Home Garden Side for Wildlife
Clean and neat gardens are everyone’s dream. However, wildlife may not be desirable to come around your garden. Therefore, you better opt for this minimalist home garden side that will attract them while maintaining a neat outdoor space.
You can use wooden boxes as raised beds to grow flowers, like asters and lantana, which pollinators like. Apart from that, hanging baskets and vines on the walls are also recommended given the limited space. Put on recycled decorations to make this setting even more appealing.
24. Creative Wildlife Garden Corner
What should you do with your empty garden corner? Turn it into a favorite wildlife space to hang out! Start by fencing this site with a small wooden fence to grow flowers. Consider different shades and blooms for plants to provide more nectar options for pollinators. Besides, such a setting is more captivating to see.
Additionally, hang some wooden boxes on your garden fence to grow other blooms with diverse tones. Use your old, rusty garden cart to accommodate tall plants and adorn your outdoor wildlife space.
25. Recycled Wildlife Garden Ideas
Instead of throwing away your rusty gardening tools, how about using them to decorate your wildlife-friendly garden? First, hang them on the wooden garden fence. Arrange these pieces of equipment randomly, but do not place the same size things close together.
Set up rocks at the base, leaving a bit against the fence as a planting area. Grow flowers in this spot. You can choose different species to increase biodiversity, so the pollinators who visit your garden will vary.
Final Thought
Designing wildlife-friendly gardens is simple. The key lies in plant selection. Pollinators like certain plants and flowers, such as sunflowers, asters, phlox, coneflowers, black-eyed susan, and more.
We highly recommend growing ones with different species. Thus your garden is rich in biodiversity as each plant attracts various beneficial insects.
In addition to plants, you also have to pay attention to soil fertility for the sake of earthworms. Without them, it is impossible to have fertile soil to plant your favorite flowers. If you have ponds, consider growing plants that can eliminate algae, such as duckweed and water lilies.
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What plants are good at attracting wildlife?
Attracting bees and butterflies to your garden is actually easy, but you need excellent insight into plant selection. You better grow flowers with strong scents full of pollen and nectars to lure them into your pollinator-friendly garden.
We have some of the best plants that can help create a wildlife habitat in your garden, such as Goldenrods, Asters, Sunflowers, Honeysuckles, and Joe Pyes. Meanwhile, the trees you can consider growing in your backyard wildlife habitat are Oaks and Willows.
How can you increase biodiversity in your garden?
Native plant gardening for wildlife is the best bet to have a biodiversity garden. There are tons of native plants and flowers to grow in your outdoor garden. You can choose different colors to make your native wildlife garden pop.
Also, consider planting ones with various growing seasons. That way, your landscape design will be colorful year-round. We highly recommend growing fragrant flowers that attract wildlife to your garden, like butterflies and bees. Add a wildlife pond if you want to try encouraging frogs to inhabit your wildlife-friendly garden.
What are the benefits of wildlife farming?
As its name bears, wildlife farming is an agricultural method for growing crops that benefits our ecosystem. It includes incorporating native plants for wildlife to take shelter and obtain food sources.
In addition, wildlife farming has the potential to protect nearly extinct species. This method also helps improve plant biodiversity. Moreover, you can turn your backyard into wildlife habitat by choosing this practice.
What trees encourage wildlife?
If you want to create a wildlife-friendly garden design in your backyard, you must consider native plants and trees. They can be a sustainable garden that feeds pollinators, birds, and other animals or even provide them a nesting place.
Besides, they can take shelter in your outdoor garden when there is bad weather, like storms or wind. Some native trees that attract wildlife to your garden are oaks, willows, and birches. If you wish to have an edible wildlife garden, you can also try growing crabapple trees.
