Attracting Wildlife With Edible Landscaping

If you’re looking to create a beautiful garden while also attracting wildlife, edible landscaping may be just what you need.

Edible landscaping is the practice of growing plants that are both visually appealing and provide food for humans and animals alike.

In this blog post, I will guide you on how to attract wildlife with edible landscaping.

You’ll learn about the benefits of edible landscaping, the types of wildlife you can attract, and how to choose plants that are ideal for your edible landscape.

Let’s dive right in.

What is Edible Landscaping?

Do you love the idea of sustainable gardening and healthy eating? Do you believe that gardening can be beautiful as well as practical? If so, then edible landscaping might just be for you.

Edible landscaping is the practice of growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other edible plants in your landscape designs. It combines the principles of sustainable gardening and aesthetic landscaping to create beautiful and functional spaces that provide an abundance of fresh, healthy food.

Edible landscaping is not only a great way to create a sustainable food source, but it also has many other benefits. An edible landscape can help to improve soil health, conserve water, and reduce the use of harmful chemicals. Additionally, it can create a habitat for wildlife, attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and provide a source of food for local wildlife.

Incorporating edible plants into your landscape design is an exciting way to create a vibrant, healthy ecosystem in your own backyard.

Types of Wildlife that Edible Landscaping Attracts

Edible landscaping is not only beneficial for your taste buds and the environment but also for attracting a vast variety of wildlife to your garden. Here are some common examples of creatures that will flock to your yard with edible landscaping.

Firstly, planting berry bushes and fruit trees will invite a variety of birds, who love to snack on produce such as blueberries, raspberries, and cherries. Some of these fruits might fall to the ground, which will also attract small mammals like rabbits and squirrels. Creating a bird-friendly environment will bring color to your backyard as you spot different species of birds, especially if you choose plants that flower and hold fruit at different times of the year.

Secondly, bees and butterflies will also be attracted to edible landscaping. These two species of pollinators are responsible for pollinating roughly 1/3 of the global food supply. Planting flowers and herbs like sunflowers, daisies, marigolds, and basil act as attractants and provide a valuable food source to pollinators who need nectar and pollen for survival.

Lastly, edibles like tomatoes and squash contain pollen that is great for large insects like bumblebees. Larger insects use their stronger muscles to vibrate the flower, thus speeding up the release of the pollen.

By providing food sources throughout the year, you have the opportunity to create a bustling ecosystem in your garden, attracting an array of life needed to create a healthy garden that thrives year-round.

Choosing Plants for Edible Landscaping

Choosing the right plants for your edible landscape is essential to attract wildlife. Here are some tips to help you select the best plants:

Native Plants

Choosing native plants is crucial because they are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. They require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than non-native plants, which is better for the environment and your wallet.

Fruits and Vegetables that Wildlife Like

Some fruits and vegetables are more attractive to wildlife than others. For example, birds love blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries, while butterflies are drawn to herbs like parsley, fennel, and dill. Bees prefer flowers like lavender, sunflowers, and coneflowers.

Plants that Flower at Different Times of the Year

It’s important to choose plants that flower at different times of the year to provide a continuous source of food for wildlife. For example, crocuses and daffodils are some of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, while asters and goldenrods bloom in the fall.

When choosing plants, make sure to consider the size of your yard and the amount of sunlight and water each plant needs. Research the plants you’re interested in to ensure they’re compatible with your yard’s conditions.

Remember, variety is important. Be sure to include a range of plants for each type of wildlife you want to attract.

Designing an Edible Landscape

Designing an edible landscape takes careful planning and consideration. You want to make sure that the plants you choose are not only aesthetically pleasing but also attract a variety of wildlife.

When planning out the layout, it’s important to keep in mind the space that the plants will need to grow and mature. Make sure that you group plants together based on their specific needs for water and sunlight. This will make it easier to care for them in the long run.

Incorporating different heights and layers in your design will add visual interest and create microclimates for different types of plants. For example, you can plant tall trees and shrubs on the northern side of your garden to provide some shade for the lower-growing plants.

Another important factor is choosing plants that flower at different times of the year. This will provide a continuous source of food for wildlife throughout the growing season. Be sure to choose a variety of plants that provide nectar as well as those that produce fruit or seeds.

When designing your edible landscape, consider the overall aesthetic that you’re trying to achieve. Do you want a formal garden with neatly clipped hedges and geometric patterns, or do you prefer a more naturalistic look?

It’s important to strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics. You want to create a space that’s visually appealing but also attracts wildlife and provides food for your family.

By following these tips, you can design an edible landscape that’s both beautiful and functional. Remember to choose plants that are well-suited to your climate and soil conditions, and be sure to plan out the layout before you start planting.

Avoiding Harmful Pesticides and Chemicals

Using pesticides and chemicals on your plants can be harmful to wildlife, although it may help remove unwanted pests. Chemical pesticides contain toxic ingredients that can not only kill insects that are beneficial to your garden but also those that are essential for pollination. Additionally, the chemicals can linger on plants that birds or other animals eat, leading to health problems, which can be fatal to some animals.

If you do need to use pesticides or chemicals, consider natural and non-toxic alternatives. There are several eco-friendly solutions available, including using horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps. These products can help control pests without harming beneficial insects. It is also essential to read the label on chemical products, follow the instructions carefully, and use them only as directed.

Another way to prevent the use of harmful chemicals in your garden is by avoiding fertilizers and other plant treatments that contain synthetic chemicals. Instead, you can use organic and natural fertilizers that can enrich your soil and help your plants grow without the need for chemical additives.

Creating a healthy environment for wildlife in your garden can benefit both your plants and animals. By avoiding chemicals and using natural alternatives, you can ensure that the animals visiting your garden can thrive and live in a healthy environment.

Maintenance

Maintaining an edible landscape is essential for the optimal growth and health of your plants and for attracting wildlife to it. Here are some tips to keep your edible landscape healthy and vibrant.

Watering and fertilizing

Watering is crucial for the plants in your landscape. It is important to water your plants adequately but not excessively. Water the soil and not the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.

Fertilizing is also essential in promoting the growth of plants in your edible landscape. Use organic fertilizers that are free from harmful chemicals and apply them according to the instructions carefully.

Pruning and weeding

Removing dead, damaged, or diseased branches from the plants is important to prevent the spread of diseases or pests. Pruning also encourages healthy growth of the plants.

Weeding helps to eliminate competition for nutrients, water, and air between your desired plants and unwanted plants and weeds.

Protecting plants from wildlife

Wildlife like birds, rabbits, and deer adore edible landscapes. However, they can be a nuisance as they can damage or eat away your plants. Using bird feeders and birdhouses can help to direct birds to designated spaces.

To keep rodents and bigger animals away, one can install barriers or raised beds around your edible landscape. Netting can also be used around fruit-producing plants or trees to prevent birds and insects from getting to them.

Maintaining your edible landscape might require some work, but the effort is worth it. It will not only increase the attractiveness of your landscape but also promote a healthy ecosystem around it.

Attracting Wildlife with Bird Feeders and Houses

If you want to attract even more wildlife to your edible landscape, bird feeders and houses can be a great addition. Not only do they provide food and shelter for birds, but they also attract other animals such as squirrels and chipmunks that eat the fallen seeds.

There are many types of bird feeders to choose from, but be sure to get ones that are appropriate for the type of birds you want to attract. For example, tube feeders are great for finches, while hopper feeders are best for larger birds like blue jays and cardinals.

When choosing a birdhouse, make sure it is the right size for the birds you want to attract. The entrance hole should be big enough for the bird to enter but not so big that other animals can get in.

Bird feeders and houses should be placed within your edible landscape, but not too close to the plants. This will prevent birds from perching on the plants and potentially damaging them. Additionally, make sure to clean your feeders and houses regularly to prevent the spread of disease.

By providing food and shelter for wildlife, you are creating a balanced ecosystem that will benefit your garden. Plus, it’s a great way to observe and enjoy the beauty of nature right in your own backyard.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, creating an edible landscape is a brilliant way to attract wildlife to your garden while adding beauty and functionality to your outdoor space.

By choosing the right plants, designing your space well, avoiding harmful chemicals, and providing additional resources like bird feeders, you can easily create a habitat that is viable for a range of animals.

Now it’s over to you.

Which strategy from today’s post are you going to try first?

Send me a message to let me know how you got on and what you’ve done to create an edible landscape in your garden.

If you found this post helpful in any way, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share it on social media.

Doing so could help others who are also looking to create a habitat in their gardens.

Thanks for reading!