Here's just a couple of very important wildlife gardening tasks for this month.
Gone are the days of denuding all dead stems and seed heads once they've gone over and dispersed their seed, it they're adding form and structure to the art of the garden, just for the sake of tidiness, leave them! These Cephalaria, Giant Scabious look great set against Lake Windermere, the dried heads cavities make great refuges for many insects.
Research shows that the temperature inside is that much warmer, which draws an array of insects in. Also, the stems and debris further down the plant acts as great areas for insects, frogs, and toads, great too for organic matter going into the soil rhizosphere. On cold frosty mornings, the frost on full stems and dried seed heads looks impressive, but also on those that are going over. All part of the beauty and form as a garden moves from autumn to winter, thinking with wildlife in mind.
I'm also leaving these grasses after no mow May, and ongoing, trimming back by gentle degrees, preferably by hand on a smaller area, using garden sheers.
Dying grasses in the lawn area wildlife garden are of interest for the butterfly gardener! Grasses attract specific species -
- Meadow Brown.
- Gatekeeper.
- Speckled Wood.
- Ringlets.
- Small Skipper.
There is no nectar source from grasses, only pollen through the growing season. At this time of year though the grasses are very important, serving as vital egg laying spots for butterflies, thus food plants for the resulting caterpillars.
It's vitally important we keep gardening with wildlife in mind, particularly at this time of year!
Kevin Line,
Head Gardener, Lakeside Hotel Garden Cumbria,
Professional Gardeners ‘Guild.
Hort Week Columnist, Industry Online Magazine.
