Making your land welcoming to native flora and fauna means embracing a few basic principles, abiding by some dos and don’ts. Over time, we’ll explore each of these ideas more fully, linking from here so you can easily find the information.
Do’s
- Shelter and compost. Leave falling leaves and some branches on the ground, to provide places for hiding and nesting.
- Provide water. Create or cultivate a source of water on your property, ideally a decent-sized pond that won’t evaporate quickly, and that has a pump to aerate the water and make the environment less attractive to mosquito larvae.
- Encourage the growth of natural food sources and put out several bird feeders (different types for different types of birds).
- Call on nature. Employ natural pest and weed management, and organic fertilization methods.
- Plant or relocate plants native to your area to places they’re likely to thrive without artificial watering. Get rid of invasive species.
Don’ts
- Don’t use pesticides, fungicides or herbicides on your property, other than the natural options mentioned above.