Tips for a Winter-Resilient Landscape Offered by County Environmental Department
Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter: A Guide for Animal and Plant Survival
Want to turn your garden into a cozy winter retreat for plants and critters? Environmental Protection Office of Rhein-Kreis Neuss head, Ines Willner, shares her expert advice:
- Let nature take its course: Keep those fallen fruits, berries, seeds, and nuts on hand - they're nature's winter buffet for birds and squirrels. Don't be too hasty in tidying up; leaving some residues from perennials provides crucial nutrients to the soil.
- Layered insulation: Cover garden beds with a thick layer of leaves to prevent soil erosion. Thisthrows a cozy blanket for microorganisms and earthworms during winter freeze. Remember, a little disorder can go a long way, helping first-awakening pollinators, like bumblebees and butterflies, thrive.
- Taller grasses: Keep the taller grasses in your garden standing. The dead stalks act as a natural insulator and provide shelter for insects, wild bees, butterflies, and even dragonflies. You don't have to dispose of the leftovers immediately, as they are an excellent shelter for small mammals, like hedgehogs.
When critters take refuge in and around your home, be sure to welcome them. Ladybugs and hoverflies, often seen in window frames, may appear lifeless, but they'll rise and shine come spring, helping control pests in your garden.
Warmer climates are becoming less inviting for winter migrations, with birds and butterflies sticking around. Your garden could be their only shelter, so consider adding suitable overwintering spots.
A budget-friendly alternative: use leaves and branches to create a protective layer for plants that stay outside through the winter. Mats made of reed can also be filled with leaves, providing a dual purpose of shelter for useful garden helpers and a cozy spot for pot plants.
Follow these tips to create a winter-friendly garden that will not only support your plants but also provide a sanctuary for the tiny inhabitants of your backyard.
- Embrace environmental science by understanding the importance of sustainable living in your garden during winter, providing a cozy retreat for animals and plants.
- Incorporate environmental-science principles by allowing nature to take its course, keeping fallen fruits, berries, seeds, and nuts to attract birds and squirrels, and leaving residues from perennials as nutrients for the soil.
- To help maintain climate-change resistance in your home-and-garden, consider layering insulation by covering garden beds with a thick layer of leaves, providing shelter for microorganisms, earthworms, and beneficial insects like bumblebees and butterflies.
- By practicing gardening techniques that encourage a sustainable lifestyle, such as keeping taller grasses for insulation and Pollinator-friendly home-and-garden design, you can create a welcoming environment for various critters during winter, promoting biodiversity within your garden landscape.
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