Easy Ways to Help Wildlife in the Garden (4 min read)

Three simple things you can do in your garden this spring to help birds and insects

Kia ora e hoa - hello my friend☀

A big thanks to everyone who has ordered a calendar so far. I really appreciate your support! This year I’ve included landscapes as well as wildlife, and have included some key environmental days along with public holidays. Whether you’d like to bring a little nature into your home, or you’re after a unique NZ gift, please take a look.

It is Labour Weekend here in Aotearoa, which I’ve grown up with as the “gardening weekend” because it’s usually when the weather begins to settle. I have been enjoying the garden, getting the lawns under control (with my push mower and my scythe!) and tackling the weeds - unfortunately, my health hasn’t been fantastic over the last couple of years and the garden has suffered.

I remember having a moan about this to my friend & fellow gardener, who reminded me that a weedy and overgrown backyard may look a little messy - but the birds and insects are probably happy.

My meadow and orchard last summer.

So, while I am still trying to get the garden a bit neater, I am also taking time to notice the wildlife who are using it for food, water, shelter, and homes in the meantime. And what better to write about on New Zealand’s unofficial gardening weekend?

5 Ways to Help Wildlife in the Garden this Spring

1. Consider a Low-Mow Lawn

This is a healthy compromise between an overgrown meadow & a lawn that’s virtually an outdoor carpet. The idea is to reduce the frequency of mowing rather than stop altogether.

Broom seed beetle (Bruchidius villosus, introduced) on dandelions in my lawn.

A low-mow lawn gives flowers a chance to grow, providing food for insects and spiders (like the broom seed beetles above, feasting on a dandelion).

While most of the research I’ve seen into low-mow lawns has been from the UK and US, the Auckland Botanic Gardens have done some trials and surveys which are well worth a read. You can read them here and here.

I’ve also seen low-mow areas popping up in some of our council gardens around the country, and it’s encouraging to see some public examples. And if you need short turf for kids or pets, consider portioning off a small section of lawn to go low-mow.

Low Mow Area sign in Invercargill.

2. Create a Pollinator Pot

Down the back of my garden I have a little patch of garden I like sitting in just to watch the garden life. It’s next to my butterfly garden, under the shade of our beech trees, and a sheltered ‘sit spot’ all year round.

Amongst the shrubs I’ve placed a ‘pollinator pot’ - a medium-sized terracotta pot with some easy, pollinator-friendly plants. I’ve kept it simple with stinging nettle, calendula, and alyssum because they’re all plants that will self-seed, and don’t need much water (I haven’t watered it in over a year and it is still going strong!).

It’s an easy way to help out our wildlife, even in a tiny garden, and a fun project to spend an afternoon on - you could even decorate the pot if you are feeling arty. I think a hebe would make a great addition, too.

3. Plant Caterpillar Food

Do you know what pūrerehua (butterflies) are found in your region? Do you know what their caterpillars feed on? Most pūrerehua have one or two specific plants their caterpillars will eat, like admiral butterflies which feed on plants in the Urtica genus (stinging nettles). These are called host plants.

Have a look at the butterfly species here and find out which ones you’ve seen - or which ones you might see if you plant nectar-rich flowers and the right host plants. If you’re in New Zealand, then monarchs, admirals, blues, and coppers are a good start for most of the motu (country).

Swan plant (Gomphocarpus fruticosus, introduced) and common stinging nettle (Urtica urens, introduced) in my butterfly garden.

And, of course, once you have done the mahi (work) then take the time to sit back and enjoy it. What life do you see in your garden? As I write, there are tūī, sparrows, and bumblebees enjoying the kōwhai tree outside my window. It’s a wonderful feeling, knowing that something I am doing is actually helping - even if it’s just in a small way.

Happy wildlife watching,

Zenobia x

The Weekly Wildlife newsletter is free, but if you’d like to support my work & receive member-only posts, join with a monthly or annual subscription.

If you would like to support The Dwindle River Garden with a one-off donation, tap the button below.