Residential property owners wanting to create a wildlife-friendly environment might hire a landscaping service to make substantial changes to their backyard. With various types of plants and some water features, the land blends more effectively into the area's natural ecosystem. Now, the residents will share the outdoors with many species of cheerful songbirds, playful squirrels, and majestic deer. Landscaping services can help create an environment that welcomes these critters while also being aesthetically appealing.
Substances To Avoid
The property owners will want landscaping that doesn't require pesticides to look great. Spraying plants with insecticide products can kill beneficial insects that people may want to attract to their little ecosystem. Monarch butterflies need milkweed for their young to eat, and bees need flowers for gathering pollen. Pesticide in the air and on leaves and grass also is harmful to birds, squirrels, and frogs.
Synthetic chemical fertilizers and any type of herbicide also should be avoided. Although they help to create a lush, thick green lawn, those poisonous substances wash away in rain and can end up in local waterways. In municipalities, rain and chemicals travel to storm sewers that lead to rivers and lakes.
Wildflowers and Native Sedges
For best results, the yard will not consist of a perfectly manicured lawn with no weeds of any type. In fact, wildflowers like dandelions are attractive to early-season pollinators, including bumblebees and certain species of butterflies. It's possible to have a yard with no manicured lawn space, although most homeowners like having at least a small amount of grass for a sitting area with patio furniture.
They might consider planting native sedges as an alternative to grass. These plants look like large grass blades and are available in thousands of species with varying characteristics.
Getting Tips for Keeping Grass Healthy
Landscaping professionals also can provide tips on keeping patches of grass green and healthy without the use of synthetic products. An example would be adding grass seed occasionally with a simple wheeled or hand-powered seed spreader.
Water Features and Bird Feeders
Landscapers could install a fountain that functions as a birdbath and a place where critters can get a drink. Property owners may be surprised at how many wildlife species use these water features, particularly during dry weather when puddles from rain are nonexistent. Planting trees near the fountain and around feeders allows the winged creatures the sense they live in a forest with a large amount of protective cover.
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