July is a vibrant month in the garden, with many plants in full bloom and wildlife activity at its peak. As summer progresses, the garden becomes a crucial environment for young animals, including fledgling birds, juvenile mammals, and emerging amphibians and insects. These young creatures are learning to navigate their world, finding food, and avoiding predators. As a gardener, you have a unique opportunity to create a safe and nurturing space that supports the growth and development of these young animals. This guide will explore how to make your garden a haven for juvenile wildlife during July.
The Importance of Supporting Young Wildlife in Your Garden
Gardens play a critical role in supporting local wildlife, especially for young animals that are still learning essential survival skills. By providing food, shelter, and a safe environment, your garden can contribute to the well-being of these creatures, ensuring they have the resources they need to grow and thrive.
Why July is Crucial for Young Wildlife
- Peak Breeding Season: Many animals give birth or hatch in spring, making July a time when young animals are active and reliant on their surroundings for food and safety.
- Learning and Development: July is when many young animals are learning to forage, hunt, and avoid predators. The environment you create in your garden can significantly impact their survival.
- Natural Resources: Gardens can offer a wealth of natural resources, such as insects, seeds, and safe nesting sites, that are essential for young animals during this critical stage of their lives.
Creating a Safe Habitat for Young Wildlife
The first step in supporting young wildlife in your garden is to create a safe and welcoming habitat. This involves considering the needs of different species and making sure your garden provides the necessary resources for their survival.
1. Providing Shelter and Safe Spaces
Young animals need safe spaces where they can rest, hide from predators, and gradually explore their environment. Providing adequate shelter is crucial to making your garden a haven for wildlife.
A. Nesting Sites for Birds
Fledgling birds, just leaving the nest, require safe areas where they can practice flying and learn to forage under the watchful eye of their parents.
- Nesting Boxes: If you have nesting boxes in your garden, ensure they are positioned safely away from predators and disturbances. After the breeding season, clean out the boxes to prepare them for the next year.
- Dense Shrubs and Hedges: Dense plantings, such as hedges or shrubs, provide excellent cover for young birds. Species like hawthorn, holly, and ivy are particularly valuable as they offer both protection and food.
- Leave Fallen Branches: Fallen branches or log piles create natural hiding spots for young birds. These areas allow them to explore and forage while staying close to safety.
B. Cover for Mammals
Juvenile mammals, such as hedgehogs and young rabbits, also need safe spaces to shelter from predators and harsh weather.
- Brush Piles: Create brush piles using fallen branches, leaves, and garden clippings. These piles provide excellent cover for small mammals, offering a safe place to rest and hide.
- Undisturbed Corners: Designate a corner of your garden to be left undisturbed. Overgrown areas with tall grass and wildflowers can serve as a refuge for young mammals, providing both food and shelter.
- Hedgehog Houses: If you have hedgehogs in your area, consider building or buying a hedgehog house. These shelters offer a safe, dry place for hedgehogs to rest during the day and hibernate in the winter.
C. Ponds and Water Features
Young amphibians, such as frogs and newts, rely on water sources for their early development. Ponds and water features can provide the perfect environment for these creatures.
- Wildlife Ponds: Ensure your pond has shallow edges and plenty of aquatic plants, which offer hiding spots for tadpoles and juvenile amphibians. Avoid adding fish to the pond, as they may prey on young amphibians.
- Damp Areas: Create damp, shaded areas near your pond by planting moisture-loving plants like ferns and hostas. These areas provide shelter for amphibians when they leave the water.
- Floating Plants: Add floating plants to your pond to provide cover for young amphibians and insects. Plants like water lilies or duckweed can help protect them from predators.
2. Providing Food Sources
Food is a critical resource for young animals, especially those that are just learning to forage. By planting a variety of species and creating a diverse environment, you can ensure that your garden offers abundant food sources throughout July.
A. Insect-Friendly Plants
Insects are a primary food source for many young animals, including birds and amphibians. Planting a variety of insect-attracting flowers can help ensure there is plenty of food available.
- Wildflowers: Wildflowers such as daisies, cornflowers, and poppies attract a wide range of pollinators, which in turn attract insect-eating birds and mammals.
- Herbs: Herbs like mint, thyme, and lavender are not only great for your kitchen but also attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
- Nectar-Rich Flowers: Flowers like buddleia, echinacea, and sunflowers are excellent for attracting pollinators. These plants provide nectar for adult insects and create a hunting ground for birds and other insectivores.
B. Berries and Seeds
Many young birds and mammals rely on berries and seeds as they transition from a diet of insects to plant-based foods.
- Berry-Producing Shrubs: Plant shrubs that produce berries in summer, such as raspberries, blackberries, and elderberries. These fruits are a valuable food source for many young birds and mammals.
- Seed Heads: Allow some of your plants to go to seed, providing an additional food source. Plants like sunflowers and teasels produce seeds that are loved by birds, especially in late summer and autumn.
- Fruit Trees: If you have space, consider planting fruit trees. Fallen fruit can provide a feast for young mammals, such as squirrels and hedgehogs.
C. Supplemental Feeding
While natural food sources are ideal, providing supplemental food can help support wildlife, especially during times of scarcity.
- Bird Feeders: Keep your bird feeders stocked with a variety of seeds, suet, and mealworms to support young birds as they learn to forage independently. Make sure the feeders are clean and placed in safe locations.
- Hedgehog Feed: If you’re lucky enough to have hedgehogs in your garden, consider offering them specially formulated hedgehog food. Avoid giving them milk, as it can cause digestive issues.
- Water Sources: Ensure there are plenty of fresh water sources available. Shallow dishes of water placed at ground level can help small mammals and birds stay hydrated during the hot summer months.
3. Managing Garden Practices to Protect Young Wildlife
While it’s important to maintain your garden, some common practices can inadvertently harm young wildlife. Being mindful of these practices can help you create a safer environment.
A. Mowing and Trimming
Lawn mowing and hedge trimming can disrupt or harm young animals that may be hiding in the grass or shrubs.
- Check Before Mowing: Always check your lawn for any young animals, such as fledglings or hedgehogs, before mowing. If possible, avoid mowing certain areas of the garden where you know wildlife may be sheltering.
- Leave Wild Areas: Consider leaving a section of your lawn unmown throughout July. Tall grasses and wildflowers provide shelter and food for young insects, amphibians, and mammals.
- Timing of Hedge Trimming: If you need to trim hedges, do so with caution. Many birds nest in hedges, and trimming could disturb or destroy their nests. The best time to trim is after the nesting season has ended, typically in late summer or early autumn.
B. Using Pesticides and Fertilizers
Chemical pesticides and fertilizers can be harmful to wildlife, especially young animals that are more vulnerable to toxins.
- Avoid Chemical Pesticides: Instead of using chemical pesticides, opt for organic methods of pest control. Encourage natural predators, such as ladybirds and birds, to keep pest populations in check.
- Use Organic Fertilizers: Choose organic fertilizers that are less likely to harm wildlife. Compost and well-rotted manure are excellent natural fertilizers that improve soil health without the need for chemicals.
- Be Cautious with Slug Pellets: Traditional slug pellets can be deadly to hedgehogs and birds. If you need to control slugs, consider using wildlife-friendly alternatives or natural methods such as beer traps or copper tape.
C. Providing Safe Passage
Young animals, particularly those that are just beginning to explore, need safe ways to move around your garden.
- Wildlife Corridors: Create wildlife corridors by connecting different areas of your garden with hedges, plants, or tunnels. These corridors allow young animals to move safely from one area to another without crossing open spaces where they are vulnerable to predators.
- Gaps in Fences: Ensure that your garden fences have small gaps at the bottom to allow animals like hedgehogs to pass through. Hedgehogs can travel several miles a night in search of food, and gaps in fences help them move freely between gardens.
- Avoid Netting Hazards: If you use garden netting, make sure it is taut and not left loose where animals can become entangled. Loose netting can be a hazard for birds, mammals, and even reptiles.
Monitoring and Supporting Wildlife Throughout July
July is a busy month in the garden, not just for you but for the wildlife that inhabits it. Regularly monitoring and making small adjustments to your garden practices can have a big impact on the survival and well-being of young animals.
1. Observing Wildlife Behavior
Taking the time to observe the behavior of young wildlife in your garden can provide valuable insights into their needs and challenges.
A. Birdwatching
Watch for fledglings as they leave the nest and begin to explore. Note where they spend their time and whether they are finding enough food.
- Nesting Behavior: Pay attention to whether birds are still actively feeding young in the nest. This can help you decide when it’s safe to carry out garden tasks like hedge trimming.
- Fledgling Feeding: Fledglings may be seen begging for food from their parents. Ensure bird feeders are well-stocked, and consider placing additional feeders in areas where fledglings are active.
B. Tracking Mammals
Look for signs of young mammals in your garden, such as tracks, droppings, or the animals themselves.
- Hedgehog Activity: Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so check for signs of their activity in the early morning, such as droppings or disturbed earth. If you see young hedgehogs during the day, they may need assistance, as this is unusual behavior.
- Rabbit Kits: If you have rabbits in your area, watch for young kits exploring the garden. Ensure that there are safe areas where they can shelter from predators.
C. Monitoring Amphibians
Amphibians like frogs and newts may be seen emerging from ponds as they transition from aquatic to terrestrial life.
- Tadpole Development: Monitor your pond for the development of tadpoles. As they grow legs and begin to leave the water, make sure there are plenty of damp, shaded areas nearby.
- Safe Exits from Ponds: Ensure that there are easy ways for young amphibians to exit the pond. A gently sloping edge or a small pile of stones can help them move from the water to land.
2. Adjusting Garden Practices Based on Wildlife Needs
As you observe the wildlife in your garden, be prepared to make adjustments to your gardening practices to better support their needs.
A. Timing Garden Tasks
If you notice young animals in a particular area, delay tasks like mowing or trimming until they have moved on. This small adjustment can make a big difference to their safety.
B. Enhancing Food Sources
If you see young birds struggling to find enough food, consider adding more insect-attracting plants or increasing the number of bird feeders. The same goes for mammals and amphibians—make sure there is plenty of food available as they learn to forage.
C. Creating Additional Shelter
If your observations suggest that young animals are lacking in shelter, add more hiding spots, such as brush piles or dense plantings. These shelters provide critical cover as young animals develop their survival skills.
Conclusion
July is a crucial month for the growth and development of young wildlife in your garden. By providing safe habitats, abundant food sources, and mindful gardening practices, you can support the next generation of birds, mammals, and amphibians as they navigate the challenges of early life. Your garden can become a sanctuary where young animals thrive, contributing to the health and biodiversity of the local ecosystem. Through careful observation and thoughtful action, you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the wildlife that call your garden home.
