August 1, 2022 Landscaping to attract wildlife brings birds, butterflies, and small, furry animals close to view. It’s exciting to observe nature right from home windows! In addition, backyard habitats support ecosystems, boost biodiversity, and can rehome displaced animals. Start landscaping for wildlife today and become a host for all kinds of remarkable animal species. Getting Started Before getting started, consider the basic elements essential to a backyard wildlife habitat: food, water, shelter, and a place to reproduce and raise young. Next, brainstorm components that fulfill these basic needs. For example, a pond would provide water and evergreen shrubs would provide cover. Then, plan for success by mapping it out. Learn the dimensions and conditions of your backyard and plan where each landscape component needs to go. On paper, draw a scaled diagram including patios, walkways, outbuildings, etc. This extra step will reduce potential setbacks by bringing them to awareness upfront. Plant The Right Kinds of Trees and Shrubs Trees are a vital resource for life within the environment. Many species rely on trees to fulfill essential needs like nesting, food, shelter, and more. For example, mammals often live in trees, and birds utilize them for food and shelter. When choosing plants, it is key to make selections that provide food all year round. Certain woody plants like beech trees and elderberry shrubs produce fruits and nuts for many animals. To ensure food is produced year-round, choose plants that have different fruiting periods. For example, black cherry trees produce fruit during summer into the fall and hickory trees produce nuts during fall into winter. Landscape With Native Plants Native plants are well-adapted to the climate, soil type, and water availability in their respective regions. Especially in Colorado’s harsh conditions, native plants thrive by supporting each other, preserving checks and balances, and facilitating growth and biodiversity. This means reduced work for landscapers and homeowners, and it also supports the larger natural ecosystem! Native plants provide a lifeline to wildlife and contribute to clean water and air, amongst many additional benefits. In the Front Range and Foothills region, native trees and shrubs include rocky mountain maples, ponderosa pines, silvery leadplant shrubs, and more. Final Touches for Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat Finally, personalize your backyard habitat with fun final touches to add beauty and further benefit wildlife. Here are some ideas to get you started: Make your own bird feeder to hang in your habitat Create a meadow of flowers to attract butterflies, bees, and birds Utilize landscape layering to ensure coverage for animals of different sizes and species Add a bird bath for drinking, preening, and cooling off Grow native vines to provide food and cover for wildlife Build your own nature pond to support visual appeal and wildlife hydration Buy a pair of binoculars to relax, watch, and observe Landscaping is hard work and requires a lot of time, research, and resources. Let Front Range Arborists handle that for you, so you can focus on hosting your new wildlife friends! We are a team of professional arborists that offers a full range of tree and shrub services. Whether you need pest control services, pruning, or something else, we’ve got you covered.
