ANNIE SCHLECHTER
24.07.2023 - 11:51 / hgic.clemson.edu
“How do I attract wildlife to my backyard? Or “I want to see more animals in my yard.” I often hear this question/statement from wildlife-loving homeowners. It is important to note that you do not have to have large acreages to attract wildlife. You just need to meet their basic needs. All living things require four things: Food, Shelter (Cover), Water, and Space.
To attract wildlife to your yard, I would first survey the property to determine which elements you may be lacking. Ask yourself, do you have water available? Do you have a food source that is available year-round? Are there places for wildlife to hide?
While you are surveying your yard, make a note of the diversity of plant species. This will help ensure that you have food sources and cover year-round for wildlife, especially during times of drought. Be certain to note your hard and soft mast plants. Hard mast plants produce hard-shelled seeds like acorns and hickory nuts, and soft mast plants produce seeds that are covered in fleshy fruit like blackberries and persimmons. Some great examples of hard mast producing plants would be oaks, hickories, and beech trees. These trees produce seeds that will be available for wildlife to eat during the fall and winter months. The seeds also typically have a longer shelf life. Soft mast plants are your typical fleshy fruit, high in sugar and carbohydrates, and can be a source of moisture for wildlife during years of drought. Examples of soft mast producing plants would be blackberry, blueberry, American beautyberry, persimmon, American holly, and pokeweed. If you can, use native plants rather than exotics or nonnative plants for wildlife. Native plants can better withstand drought or other tough environmental conditions,
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Today we celebrate Earth Day for the 46th time since U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson suggested the idea for a national day focusing on the environment. After its first celebration on April 22 1970 in the US, Earth Day has grown into a worldwide environmental movement raising awareness of serious issues such as pollution, global warming, deforestation and the detrimental effect of urbanised societies on the environment.
When was the last time you replaced the air filters in your home? With poor air quality becoming a growing concern across the United States and Canada, you are probably more aware of your home’s air filters than ever before. Air filters help keep our home’s air clean and free of dust, dander, and pollutants. This not only helps us breathe easier, but it also keeps the HVAC systems in good shape and prevents them from experiencing potential damage due to the buildup of airborne particulates.
This summer has been damp and the plants have grown lush. In some way this has contributed to a dramatic cut in the number of greenfly on my roses and other plants (perhaps they found other feeding grounds or did not mate as prolifically).
Attracting wildlife into your garden can help deal with types of pests and increase the diversity of life in the garden. Some methods for increasing wildlife are quite easy.
I have been reading the Penguin Encyclopedia of Gardening which aims to provide ‘….an explanation of words used in a technical sense in a horticultural context in the UK and USA.’ Set out as an A to Z this resulting post, missing a thousand definitions, is unlikely to rank highly with search engines.
There is no reason why you should settle down for an empty, boring backyard when there is so much that can inspire you. Check out our post on how Your Backyard Can Be the Best Hang Out Place with these DIYs!
Does Firebush Attract Hummingbirds? – If you have this question in your mind, then this article will clear all your doubts!
Butterflies have this unexplainable allure that seems to appeal to people of all ages. The key to enticing these winged beauties to your yard, is utilizing adult nectar sources and larval (caterpillar) host plants in your plant palette.
After my first baby was born, I came to realize that with parenting comes advice. A lot of it. Advice on how to get the baby to sleep. Advice on how to give the baby a bath. And CONSTANTLY – advice on how to feed the baby. It comes from every direction, most often from your mother-in-law and frequently from complete strangers without children. Sometimes this well-intended advice is good and is followed by “because the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it”. But sometimes it is not so good and is supported with rationale like “because I fed it to you, and you turned out just fine”.
Nothing says Christmas more than a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Did you know that December 12th is known as National Poinsettia Day? Plant breeders have developed a wide range of colors in hues of white, purple, orange, and pink, but red poinsettias continue to be the most traditional color of the holiday season.
Many of our tried and true recipes and dishes can be ‘modified’ to increase vegetables, fiber, and fruits by making simple adjustments to meals we already eat. Many of us love watching chefs on TV but tend to go back to old favorites, i.e., macaroni and cheese, potato salad, beef stew, soup, fried chicken, broccoli casserole, spaghetti, etc.