Eliminate Chemicals
Help wildlife by eliminating or at a minimum significantly reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and other pesticides. Going chemical-free ensures that your garden is a healthy, safe place for wildlife as well as your pets and family. If you must resort to chemicals on tough cases such as removal of invasive exotic plants or some other out of control infestation, use the most targeted product that breaks down quickly in the environment, and always read and follow the labels exactly. Non-chemical, organic gardening practices in your garden or landscape are always the best option for wildlife. For more information, read our blog posts Restricting Problem Insecticides and Four Questions About Neonicotinoid Pesticides.
Encourage Pest Predators and Parasites
Insects are not the enemy in the garden. In fact, they can be the key in keeping populations of pests down. By planting native plants you attract populations of insects such as ladybugs and other carnivorous beetles, dragonflies, parasitic wasps, and praying mantises that keep the balance in the garden by other harmful plant pests. Spiders, toads, bats and even songbirds are voracious predators of pests too. Creating a diversely planted garden that attracts an array of wildlife is a much better way to control pests than spraying toxic pesticides.
