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Terracotta Works |
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Bio-diversifying your outdoor space is perhaps the single most important green feat you can achieve!
No matter how beautiful, stylish or grand it is, a healthy garden or courtyard (even a balcony) thriving with seen and unseen organisms, all humming away in perfect alignment and harmonious balance, should be the aim of every person lucky enough to be the custodian of a patch of our beautiful earth.
Whether your space is large or small, biodiversity is the key to a healthy ecosystem. Living organisms—ranging from plants and animals to microorganisms—become stronger and more resilient to challenges like climate change, the greater the biodiversity in an area is. Every species plays a unique role, ensuring vital processes, such as pollination, nutrient and water cycling, run smoothly.
Imagine if every green (and aquatic) space on our planet experienced optimum biodiversity? That is why playing our "small" part is essential.
Here are 5 ways you can get busy diversifying right now!
Conscious Planting
Did you know 40% of the world's plant species are threatened with extinction?
What can we do to help? Find out if any plants in your area are on an endangered list and do your best to repopulate where you can.
Natives, to your area in general, are often the best option to plant! Not only will they have the greatest chance of survival, they'll nourish local wildlife too.
Create layers of habitat.
Emergent Layer- the tallest trees, towering above everything else, withtanding strong winds and home to birds of prey.
Canopy- mature trees, bursting with wildlife, protecting the layers below.
Understory- smaller trees, shrubs, bushes and saplings.
"Forest" Floor- grasses, fungi, decomposing organic matter and a host of insects and small mammals.
Keep this in mind when selecting plants, ensuring you tick every box as much as you can.
StoneLite Regal Planter Set 3, Verdigris.
Attract Pollinators
What are the pollinators? Bees, of course!
But, butterflies, birds, bats, beetles, wasps, flying foxes and pygmy possums all play their parts in the process of pollination.
Give them a garden they'll lose their minds over! Flowers, flowers and more flowers!
Ensure there's a good mix of perrenials and seasonal blooms to serve-up year round pollen and nectar.
Provide Water Sources
Without water, there is no life, so provide as many sources as you're able.
Waterbaths, fountains, ponds, birdbaths, natural pools and even a dog's bowl will quench many a creature's thirst.
Place a few semi-submerged stones in some of your waterbaths for small birds and insects to stand on while they drinks.
For those with a genrous space on hand, building a watery wonderland fit for our finest frogs will earn you extra brownie points and provide little ones with the gift of watching tadpoles metamorphis before their eyes. Quarried stone
Fountain Buddha with Stand, Pompeii White. Moro Birdbath, Rustica Jade. Foshan Bowl Set 3, Seascape. Quarried stone.
Create Wildlife Habitat
Possum boxes and carefully placed logs and rocks are all great ways to encourage local wildlife to live rent-free in "your" garden.
Just the nature of creating a lush and diverse landscape will do this, but a little helping hand will, no doubt, be appreciated too.
Wildlife Victoria, Possum Nesting Box- Self Collection from Men's Shed.
Reduce Chemical Use
Eliminating chemical fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides from our environment is an act of utmost importance when aiming to tread lightly for the good of all species. Switching to a natural plant care regime can be an easy swap that can include commercially prepared products as well as tried and tested methods used by green thumbs throughout the ages.
A popular recipe for managing "weeds" includes a mix of basic household items- salt, vinegar and dishwashing detergent. There are countless videos on YouTube with exact measurements and you may even find something better! Alternatively, pouring boiling water on offending foliage seems to do the trick for many.
Whatever your weed, pest or fertiliser needs, there'll be a gentler way to tackle your problem and taking the time to do it will also be the kindest, for now, tomorrow and always.
We The Wild- Plant Care, Protect Organic Plant Spray with Neem Oil.
