5 top tips for supporting biodiversity in your garden.

If you’re of a certain age then you’ll remember driving down country roads and having the windscreen peppered with bugs of all descriptions. Not so much anymore. While the decline in insects is great for our washer fluid levels it is terrible for the country and world as a whole. 

Much of the decline has been caused by the monoculture we see in our farmland and gardens. Huge swathes of land are given over to perfectly manicured lawns with a few species of plants stuffed into raised beds made of sleepers but it doesn’t have to be that way.

We can all embrace the diversity and joy of a wild garden that buzzes with activity while still looking beautiful. Here are 5 top tips on how to do just that.

Ban the mower and seed a wildflower meadow

The thought of turning over your whole garden to wildflowers may leave you a little dry in the mouth. What would the neighbours think? There is a way you can have the best of both worlds. By designating an area of grassland, perhaps a rectangle down the middle of your garden, you can support a huge number of pollinating insects and other animals part of the food chain while still keeping your garden looking like the house hasn’t been left vacant for 6 months.

Sewing a wildflower meadow takes no skill at all so it’s accessible from the Alan Titchmarsh’s of the world right down to those of us who can kill the hardiest of plants in a week. The growing season is different for each flower but in general, get the seeds planted by June and you’ll soon have a garden full of colour and life.

Make a Bee house

Luckily for many Bees, they are able to build their own cosy hexagon-themed house and so don’t have to contend with ever-rising prices or being gazumped by a consortium.

However, not all Bees live in colonies and in fact, the most effective pollinators are the so-called solitary Bees which account for over 260 species of Bee in the UK and as their name suggests live a life unencumbered by kids or a spouse. 

Building a Bee house for these essential insects is an excellent way to boost local pollination and generally increase biodiversity.

The easiest way to make a house that any discerning Bee would be happy to live in is to get some bamboo canes, chop them into 150mm lengths and repeat until you have a bundle of around 50 sticks. Tie, glue or pack them together into an appropriately sized wooden box and place it somewhere in full sun about 1m off the ground and ensure it is protected from the rain.

Create a deadwood pile that bugs will love

Rather unfairly, everyone thinks of the cute fluffy bees when talking about creating a wild garden but the countless insects which may not be quite so photogenic also play a massive role in maintaining the biodiversity of your land. 

One very easy way to support the creepy crawlies is to build a deadwood pile. The bugs will thrive in the dark, damp, rotting conditions and in doing so contribute to the health of your garden. 

It couldn’t be easier. Simply stack a pile of wood somewhere secluded in your garden that won’t be disturbed, ideally partially bury the bottom row so delicious rot and decay set in quickly and attracts a multitude of bugs who will readily make it their new home.

Try organic pest control

As the cautionary nursery rhyme “There was an old Lady” teaches us, there is always a solution to getting rid of a pest by introducing another animal. 

Instead of spraying pesticides and herbicides which indiscriminately kill everything they come into contact with, try using natural predators to solve your problems. Greenfly will be gobbled up by Ladybirds,  slugs and snails can be controlled by Hedgehogs, and who doesn’t want a garden patrol by those cute and spiky creatures? 

Plants are not totally defensive, many such as lavender, rosemary and chrysanthemums have evolved natural pest repellents. Seeding them throughout your garden will help to repel unwanted insects without harming them or causing collateral damage.

Sedum roof

One of the options available on our beautiful garden rooms is the installation of a sedum green roof. 

A sedum roof is a living mat of vegetation that is lightweight, cost-effective, easy to install and virtually maintenance-free so you won’t have to drag your lawnmower on top of the garden room. 

We use Evermat Sedum Blanket which is exclusively grown on the shores of the Irish sea. Weather-beaten from day one, the blend of 9 varieties is grown to endure the harshest weather conditions that our Scottish climate can throw at it, ensuring an extra tough, easy-care Sedum Blanket System.  It's a simple way to make an attractive feature that ties the room into the garden.

And of course, adding a sedum blanket system to your roof provides an all-important natural habitat for insects and bird life to flourish. 

Harness water with a water butt

One of the easiest ways to harness water from roofs is to install a water butt that can be used to water plants and tubs without draining main supplies. A simple adaptor can be added to existing downpipes and the butt's can be linked as they can fill up pretty quickly (in Scotland that is!!). An incredibly simple, cost effective solution to an ever growing challenge. 

Discover more about our range of UNO, DUO, DUO+ and DUET garden rooms here.