Natural smart gardening

Before you start your spring clearing take a pause. Personally, I believe that we go too far with our obsession for tidiness in our gardens. Does everything need to look absolutely immaculate? Or could we possibly leave some room for wilderness where nature can get on with its own creativity? It doesn’t have to be ugly or unsightly. All nature needs are a few small corners of your green space that are not exposed, and a few native plants to feed its creatures.

I was recently clearing a mature ivy bush that has taken over a wall. I had to stop when I saw two frogs hibernating in the depth of its growth. They should be awake in a month or so and I can then carry on with clearing the ivy. Seeing them there gave me an idea that the spot might be ideal for a wildlife shelter. If I don’t want the ivy to destroy my wall, I can put together a log pile and let some ivy to grow over it. In that way everyone could be happy. Hopefully, the invertebrate lot under the logs on the side of the house will migrate there too, as they are viciously territorial and prefer to move of their own accord. I hate to take away their homes when I need a log for my fireplace. The Lesser Stag beetle in the picture was just such a casualty.

The truth is that the more overgrown the garden is, the more wildlife will take refuge there. Now, you may not want them all in your garden, but a healthy balance is within your grasp. Amphibians & reptiles, such as frogs, toads and sloworms, hunt slugs. In return they ask for a corner of tall grass and a few unreachable places to hide, such as ivy or a pile of logs or stones, and a place to warm up such as a patio slab. Various carnivorous beetles that take care of pests need even less – just a log pile and no pesticides, same as their grubs, unsightly as they may be. Butterflies and moths that delight us with their graceful beauty need flowers that they can pollinate day and night, while their larvae needs food and places to hide. Birds that take care of the garden pests need safe nesting sights and food supply. All of these creatures know their jobs in our gardens, we just need to let them be and not take away their habitats.

If you want to go a bit further, then plant a few small native trees, shrubs and perennials. Not only do they fix the micro-organisms and elements in the soil, but they also provide food for the above creatures, look gorgeous and require next to no care. That is what I call smart gardening. Instead of alien shrubs indifferent to local wild life, plant a stunning gelder rose, elder, broom, native privet (let it flower and produce berries – all appreciated by moths and birds; prune after the berries are gone in late winter), crab apple, rowan, wayfaring tree, whitebeam, hawthorn, hazel, all available from nurseries and garden centres.

The same goes for perennials. Their delicate beauty and independent nature will soon win over your heart. These plants can look after themselves and others around them, leaving you with more times on your hand to tell your friends, over a glass of wine, what a clever gardener you are!

I appreciate that this approach may lead to more questions that require answers and I’m happy to respond to your inquiries via e-mail or in writing. Please email mvobuk@yahoo.co.uk or write to PVN. Looking forward to your inquiries!