Deadhedging simply not practical for many people, particularly those with smaller gardens if they are heavily planted.
So don't do it.
I put log piles and old branches under my existing hedges as there was lots of unused space back there, even in my three metre wide garden. Find whatever works for you.
Exactly this, not everyone has the space (or inclination) to do something, but anybody doing anything is better than anyone doing nothing.
@GardenerSuze nobody is saying you have to ‘rewild’ your garden, your lawn does more for wildlife than it would if it were concrete or AstroTurf, but by the same token, surely you can’t object to those of us who do wanting to see and learn more about it. There are countless gardens at Chelsea that don’t focus on these things, but I wouldn’t want to see them deprived of either their place or airtime
It is complex and needs some thought if we are to do it well but keep our gardens doing what we want for our needs. It can be done in gardens small and large.
I'm lucky and have a large rural plot which we have neither the time nor the desire to tame completely and we have designated areas we'll never touch so wildlife of various sizes and forms can be safe. It's surrounded by mixed planting of trees and shrubs which could, very loosely, be called a hedge so there's plenty of habitat and food for all sorts of critters. There's a large unlined pond (dug out for cattle to drink) and it's alive with frogs and toads. We have lizards and western whip snakes. Never seen a slow worm here.
The number and variety of birds has increases since we started feeding them when we moved here and I've also planted trees and shrubs and perennials which should provide shelter and food for them and invertebrates too as they mature.
@GardenerSuze - agree about pointless celebs but some people do like to follow and copy them so maybe they'll pick up a gardening bug too....... I'd rather have more views of the gardens and plants tho.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@Obelixx I agree about the plants it is a flower show after all. I would love to see more of Chris Beardshaw's wonderful planting. Jasper Conran said he chooses plants by 'I will have one of those and one of those'. I thought with such a large garden maybe it doesn't matter if you already have a dozen of the same plant already. Guess that is what to expect from a celeb at Chelsea, I just can't take it seriously.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@AnguisFragilis Thank you for your thoughtful posts and I was pleased to read such a strong endorsement of Adrian Thomas, his Gardening For Wildlife is my gardening bible!
Personally, I think some of us are getting a bit proscriptive, judgemental and feeling unnecessarily guilty about the whole situation and that is sucking all the fun out of gardening for wildlife! Just do what you can in your particular circumstances with your particular garden size and consider what you can simply allow to happen in your garden before you even start planting or adding anything. I've stopped using chemical sprays in my small suburban garden for the last 4 years and the impact that this one simple change has had on insect species diversity alone has truly stunned me! I've also allowed the Hedera helix to do it's own thing in an area and that has made a big difference too. I love using native British plants but I think combining them with non-natives makes things far more exciting and interesting, so I'm not keen on all the overemphasis on natives that seems to be the latest trend! I suppose my point overall is that if you embrace the aspects of wildlife gardening that are easy and repeatedly bring you pleasure then you're far more likely to persist with them. I'm having tons of fun just playfully experimenting with different plants, seeing what insect species they attract and trying to learn to think of them all as much more than simple nectar providers! And this very thread has inspired me to make a stumpery in my little back garden! After that I'm planning to research what I can do in my small garden in terms of growing plants to provide seeds for birds. Just my two penneth and I'll shut up now, but first I'll also give a quick Thank You to @Loxley for mentioning No Nettles Required, sounds like a fascinating read and I plan to order a copy tomorrow!
A friend has just one tree stump in her garden .It is beautiful but cost a fortune to buy and transport. If you know of somewhere locally that is different. My other concern would be honey fungus.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@_Nicolas_ - I think you're right. It should be enjoyable, and it's absolutely about doing what suits your garden, your ability, your budget, and most important of all - your location. What suits one area of the UK won't suit others, because we simply don't all have the same wildlife, or the same conditions. Trends in gardening are the same as trends in anything else. Some folk will follow them slavishly, and others won't take any notice. Many, and I hope it's the majority, will take a sensible, rational view and do what suits them, and their plot, best.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It’s like fashion in the Sixties … we didn’t all wear Quant and Courrèges … but almost everyone’s skirts got shorter and knee boots were popular for a long while. 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
@AnguisFragilis Thank you for your thoughtful posts and I was pleased to read such a strong endorsement of Adrian Thomas, his Gardening For Wildlife is my gardening bible!
Personally, I think some of us are getting a bit proscriptive, judgemental and feeling unnecessarily guilty about the whole situation and that is sucking all the fun out of gardening for wildlife! Just do what you can in your particular circumstances with your particular garden size and consider what you can simply allow to happen in your garden before you even start planting or adding anything. I've stopped using chemical sprays in my small suburban garden for the last 4 years and the impact that this one simple change has had on insect species diversity alone has truly stunned me! I've also allowed the Hedera helix to do it's own thing in an area and that has made a big difference too. I love using native British plants but I think combining them with non-natives makes things far more exciting and interesting, so I'm not keen on all the overemphasis on natives that seems to be the latest trend! I suppose my point overall is that if you embrace the aspects of wildlife gardening that are easy and repeatedly bring you pleasure then you're far more likely to persist with them. I'm having tons of fun just playfully experimenting with different plants, seeing what insect species they attract and trying to learn to think of them all as much more than simple nectar providers! And this very thread has inspired me to make a stumpery in my little back garden! After that I'm planning to research what I can do in my small garden in terms of growing plants to provide seeds for birds. Just my two penneth and I'll shut up now, but first I'll also give a quick Thank You to @Loxley for mentioning No Nettles Required, sounds like a fascinating read and I plan to order a copy tomorrow!
Ah Hedera helix. From an ecological perspective no one will convince me that there is a single plant which contributes as much for biodiversity throughout the year. It’s an absolute rock star of a plant for wildlife.
This months GW magazine has a piece on pruning. It’s message in 1 sentence is understand your objectives. The same principle applies to wildlife. Understand what you want to achieve and then figure how to do it. This should include thinking about what actually exists nearby and is likely to be aided by your garden. I’m very lucky that I have slow worms (I’m a herpetologist as specialism) and I’m often asked how to garden for them and often the unfortunate truth is that there’s no point because there’s no reptile habitat around, no reptile records nearby and no connectivity to your garden so focus on something else. Similarly I don’t tolerate dock, goose grass or bindweed at all in the garden. These are all excellent plants for pollinators/birds but the wider landscape around my property is full of it so I can sleep easy at night not letting them take over. I control bramble and nettle quite heavily but have allowed space for it in a controlled way.
I’ve got a north facing fence, I wanted a lot of coverage for microclimates and cover, preferably with some benefit for nectar and throughout the year. I’ve mixed native honeysuckle with areas of H. helix and a couple of non native Clematis. The clematis will do the least for pollinators but will add something.
The comment above that it’s too complex to follow is disappointing. Gardening is complex. I find the horticultural side of wildlife gardening complex and intimidating but I’m learning everyday, it’s part of the joy. The ecology of a garden is another aspect which opens new doors to taking pleasure and joy from a garden.
Posts
I'm lucky and have a large rural plot which we have neither the time nor the desire to tame completely and we have designated areas we'll never touch so wildlife of various sizes and forms can be safe. It's surrounded by mixed planting of trees and shrubs which could, very loosely, be called a hedge so there's plenty of habitat and food for all sorts of critters. There's a large unlined pond (dug out for cattle to drink) and it's alive with frogs and toads. We have lizards and western whip snakes. Never seen a slow worm here.
The number and variety of birds has increases since we started feeding them when we moved here and I've also planted trees and shrubs and perennials which should provide shelter and food for them and invertebrates too as they mature.
@GardenerSuze - agree about pointless celebs but some people do like to follow and copy them so maybe they'll pick up a gardening bug too....... I'd rather have more views of the gardens and plants tho.
Jasper Conran said he chooses plants by 'I will have one of those and one of those'. I thought with such a large garden maybe it doesn't matter if you already have a dozen of the same plant already. Guess that is what to expect from a celeb at Chelsea, I just can't take it seriously.
Personally, I think some of us are getting a bit proscriptive, judgemental and feeling unnecessarily guilty about the whole situation and that is sucking all the fun out of gardening for wildlife! Just do what you can in your particular circumstances with your particular garden size and consider what you can simply allow to happen in your garden before you even start planting or adding anything. I've stopped using chemical sprays in my small suburban garden for the last 4 years and the impact that this one simple change has had on insect species diversity alone has truly stunned me! I've also allowed the Hedera helix to do it's own thing in an area and that has made a big difference too. I love using native British plants but I think combining them with non-natives makes things far more exciting and interesting, so I'm not keen on all the overemphasis on natives that seems to be the latest trend! I suppose my point overall is that if you embrace the aspects of wildlife gardening that are easy and repeatedly bring you pleasure then you're far more likely to persist with them. I'm having tons of fun just playfully experimenting with different plants, seeing what insect species they attract and trying to learn to think of them all as much more than simple nectar providers! And this very thread has inspired me to make a stumpery in my little back garden!
Just my two penneth and I'll shut up now, but first I'll also give a quick Thank You to @Loxley for mentioning No Nettles Required, sounds like a fascinating read and I plan to order a copy tomorrow!
Trends in gardening are the same as trends in anything else. Some folk will follow them slavishly, and others won't take any notice. Many, and I hope it's the majority, will take a sensible, rational view and do what suits them, and their plot, best.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I’ve got a north facing fence, I wanted a lot of coverage for microclimates and cover, preferably with some benefit for nectar and throughout the year. I’ve mixed native honeysuckle with areas of H. helix and a couple of non native Clematis. The clematis will do the least for pollinators but will add something.
The comment above that it’s too complex to follow is disappointing. Gardening is complex. I find the horticultural side of wildlife gardening complex and intimidating but I’m learning everyday, it’s part of the joy. The ecology of a garden is another aspect which opens new doors to taking pleasure and joy from a garden.