Natural pest control in the garden
If you have a problem with pests in your garden, you might be tempted to reach for pesticides. But chemical pesticides can be harmful to both your health and the environment. There is another way. Did you know that a natural garden can help keep pests under control? Birds, hedgehogs, and insects can help you prevent pest infestations.
Bird boxes and feeders
In nature, it’s a case of eat or be eaten. You should make sure that you attract as many birds to your garden as possible. Tits in particular love caterpillars, and blackbirds eat slugs and snails. Nest boxes and feeders are a good way to attract birds into the garden. Each species of bird has a different preference for nest box type and perch, so bear that in mind. A feeder, whether a bird table, fat ball, or hanging feeder, is also a good way to help birds through the lean winter months. The birds will stay around in the summer and keep insects away from your patio.
A hedgehog house
Hedgehogs are also great at pest control, eating caterpillars, slugs, and maggots. You can now buy special little houses designed specifically for hedgehogs. Position one in an area of your garden where there’s some ground cover. Keep dogs and children away from the spot, as hedgehogs are shy. Scrambled eggs and cat food are a good way to attract hedgehogs to the garden, as they have a preference for moist food. Keep a bowl of fresh water nearby too, but never milk, as it gives them diarrhoea. By following these tips, there is a good chance that you will have one or more hedgehog guests in your garden every evening.
Nature in the garden
Birds and hedgehogs in the garden are useful pest controllers, not to mention lovely to have around. To entice a little more wildlife into your garden, you need to make sure that it isn’t too neat and tidy. Corners of fallen leaves and dead branches provide food and shelter for all sorts of interesting garden wildlife. In addition, make sure that you have plenty of different varieties of flowers, as these attract butterflies, bumblebees, and honey bees – all essential for pollination. Why would you want to use poison if you can create a natural balance in the garden?
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