One of the important aspects to our philosophy on landscaping is the protection of wildlife in the garden. We offer several ideas on how to attract wildlife by providing the necessary elements of food, water, and shelter.
One of the highlights of any type of wildlife garden is to have a natural style water feature. It will not only provide wildlife the necessary water for drinking and cooling off during warmer temperatures, but will add tranquility to the yard. If a water feature is outside your budget, a simple birdbath will do just fine.
We suggest naturescaping with Native plants which will be a wildlife food source. Another advantage of using natives in the garden is that they adapt to our climate and are naturally resistant to pests and diseases while being low maintenance.
A variety of nest boxes, such as the ones you can purchase at the Audubon Society of Portland’s gift shop, or brambles of some kind, are a necessity in the garden to provide shelter.
The positive aspects of this type of garden are reducing water use by working with native plants, and using natural pest control by inviting wildlife that feeds on insects. These practices will create a more sustainable and healthier environment for families.
To get more information on certifying your backyard as part of the Audubon Society of Portland’s Backyard Habitat Certification Program please call 503-393-6855.