Creating a Garden to Support Wildlife

Creating a Garden to Support Wildlife

The Blue Ridge Wildlife Center cares for thousands of injured wildlife each year and successfully returns them to the wild. The organization is also a strong advocate for healthy wildlife habitat and provides some tips for gardeners interested in supporting local wildlife.

“Creating a native garden is a great way to support local wildlife, conserve resources, and contribute to a healthier environment,” said Annie Bradfield, executive director of BRWC. Bradfield also cautioned homeowners about tearing out hedgerows or areas that appear overgrown. “These are often essential habitats for wildlife,” she added. Here are some tips from Bradfield on how to create a wildlife friendly garden:

Different heights and shapes add interest to the gardens.

Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

• Plant native plants: Many native plants produce fruits, berries, nuts, or seeds that provide food for birds and mammals, while their flowers provide nectar for pollinators. They also host a variety of insects, which in turn provide food for birds and other predators—a crucial part of the food web. They provide habitat for wildlife to live and breed and hide from predators. They also provide nesting material for some birds.

• Use plants of different heights to provide cover and shelter for wildlife at different levels.

Wildlife need the diversity of plant structure to fulfill their varying needs throughout the day – to perch, hunt, and take cover from predators.

The White Oak can reach heights of 60-100 feet and is a critically important tree that provides habitat and food for more than 90 wildlife species and over 400 caterpillar species use the White Oak as a host plant. The Prairie Willow shrub grows to around 6-10 feet tall and provides habitat and food for many species of birds and a variety of insects (which in turn provide food for other animals).

• Include plants that flower at different times of the year to provide year-round nectar and pollen sources. Also, you can include plants that produce seeds, berries, and nuts to provide additional food for birds and mammals.

Little Bluestem grass: Schizachyrium scoparium.

Photo courtesy of Blue Ridge Wildlife Center

• Use plants with blooms of different colors and shapes to help promote greater biodiversity in your garden, as each pollinator is attracted to different colors or shapes of flowers.

We have two native rose species in Virginia—Prairie rose and Swamp rose. Both have showy pink flowers and make great additions to pollinator gardens.

Foxglove Beardtongue is a perennial with tubular, white flowers that bloom in early to mid-summer. Black-eyed Susan typically blooms from midsummer to early fall and it’s bright yellow petals attract bees, butterflies, and birds (also, goldfinches love the seeds).

• Find a nursery that carries native plants in your area. The Virginia Native Plant Society is a great resource to find native plant nurseries. By choosing plants that are adapted to local conditions, your garden will require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than traditional gardens while providing important habitat for a variety of wildlife species. It’s a simple yet powerful way to make a positive impact on the environment and enjoy the beauty of nature!

Details: The nonprofit Blue Ridge Wildlife Center is the only dedicated wildlife hospital in Northern Virginia. The center assists more than 3,000 native wildlife annually. Visit www.blueridgewildlifectr.org.