Discover Top Posts Tagged with #garden ecology

When the Bird Cafeteria Becomes a Nursery

Early spring bird feeding changes almost overnight. All winter the feeders were busy — chickadees arguing, sparrows squabbling, woodpeckers tapping on frozen mornings — and then one day in March, silence. Nothing has gone wrong. Your garden has simply shifted from cafeteria to nursery. Early Spring Bird Feeding: The Winter Transition During winter, birds survive through numbers. They move in…

#backyard birds #bird feeding tips #bird-friendly garden #birdhouse placement #early spring bird care #garden ecology #hummingbirds #Mid-Atlantic gardening #native plants #nectar feeders #nesting season #orioles #pollinator garden #regenerative gardening #seasonal garden checklist #spring garden cleanup #sustainable gardening #wildlife habitat

If, for whatever reason you cant rip out your lawn, there are still some things you can do to minimise the damage:

If you’re cutting it, leave the Edges, particularly near walls and fences, as habitat for insects.

Alternatively, only rip out the edges and replace with native flowers or a hedge - though you’ll have to do maintainence.

Scare off wildlife before you work on any landscaping - making some noise and rustling/rummaging around where you’ll be working gives critters a chance to find a new safe hiding spot.

Designate a small area to leave the hell alone - inspect for invasives, and clean up, but otherwise, just allow it to be, and dont let humans too close.

LOG PILE! A pile of sticks, leaves and trimmings is a wonderful habitat, especially during winters.

Seasonal mowing/weeding - Decide based on when you use your lawn, but some ecologists recommend mowing in late spring (assuming you’re northern hemisphere / using the lawn in summer) which allows bees time to establish themselves in the early year.

Encourage clover and other ground plants - this depends on your area but clover can be established with seed and is encouraged with shade. These plants are much friendlier to bees and retain moisture much better than grass.

Be kind to your soil! If you have any beds, make sure to feed them.

Understand how rain and weather are effecting your garden - figure out which direction water runs, and whether you need extra drainage or retainage.

#fuck lawns #solarpunk #garden #be kind to your soil and feed it #some clovers are also nitrogen fixing #garden ecology #my post #garden tips

Ice and Snow in the Winter Garden: What to Protect, What to Leave, and What to Let Be

As I write this, a major winter storm is on its way, bringing the familiar mix of snow, ice, and biting cold. For gardeners, these moments always spark the same question: Should I be doing something? The answer is: sometimes yes, often no — and occasionally, absolutely not. Leave the trees alone if they are encased in ice A winter garden is not dormant in the ecological sense. Beneath the frozen…

#climate resilient gardening #eco-friendly de-icing #garden ecology #garden wildlife #ice melt alternatives #pond de-icer #regenerative gardening #salt damage to plants #snow and ice in the garden #soil health #sustainable gardening #wildlife friendly gardening #winter garden care #winter garden checklist #winter gardening #winter ponds #winter storms

Late summer sun in the meadow.

Peter Turski

#naturalistic gardening #garden management #garden ecology #gardener #peter turski

Deer Grass: a pollen source for honeybees!

Grasses are supposed to be wind pollinated, so bees should ignore them, right. Actually, no. Our local honeybees have discovered that deer grass produces lots of usable pollen. They come in numbers to gather pollen, storing on their back legs as bright yellow balls.

Another funny thing is that deer grass is native, but honeybees are not. Yet, the bees exploit a food source that native bees do…

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#apis mellifera #bee garden #deer grass #garden ecology #grass flowers #honeybees #muhlenbergia rigens #native plants #pollen #pollen source