Even though summer is over, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have an active yard in the winter. It is important to create a beautiful, sustainable winter ecosystem that provides beauty year round and serves as a winter feeding area for the wildlife you want.

You’re helping to sustain wildlife in the winter months of New England. Each animal and organism plays a part in all of life’s interdependence. Microbes and insects are responsible for converting organic matter into nutrients. They feed smaller animals to keep the plants under control. In turn, larger animals feed them and the microbes, which in turn feed the soil. Each organism plays an important role in the life cycle.


Beauty and health

Although you may feel good about creating healthy environments, it is also a great way to attract wildlife. You can even use ecological gardening that is seamlessly compatible with nature, and which provide a natural habitat for your wildlife during winter months.

Let’s look at five tips to create a winter feeding environment that is sustainable and attractive.

  1. Let your garden be wild If you are a traditional gardener, you probably prefer order, neatness and a well-managed garden. It’s fine to have some parts of your garden go wild, but it’s not a bad idea. Many insects and animals love to shelter in grasses, dead limbs and overgrown areas. Insects?! Yes, they are a nuisance but not all bugs are harmful. Many insects, beetles and spiders are good for the soil and garden. While many beetles lay eggs in protected areas and die in winter, others make a form of glycol which is a natural antifreeze that allows them to overwinter and return to your garden in the spring.
  2. Plant “buffet vegetables” By planting berry-bearing and seed-bearing plants, you are providing food for birds and other animals during winter. Oaks, crabapple trees, hollies, and oaks are good choices for providing berries, fruit, acorns and other foods that birds, squirrels, chipmunks and deer love.
  3. Feed the birds Leave what nature has provided: native grasses and wildflower seedheads are an important food source for birds that winter in New England. This includes nuthatches, cardinals and dark-eyed Juncos. Consider leaving perennial seedheads in the fall to allow birds to forage on them. You can also supplement Mother Nature. To provide nuts and seeds for birds, hang bird feeders and fill them with suet blocks.
  4. Make a brush pile A prime spot to build a leaf-and-limb pile is a naturalized or wooded area on your property. It will provide shelter and food for birds, bunnies and other animals during the winter months. It will also make great organic soil fertilizer when the leaves fall. Many birds will forage on the ground or in low shrubbery for food. Leaf litter is a habitat for insects, salamanders and worms.
  5. Water The winter is a critical time for wildlife, so it’s important to have water nearby. Installing a bird bath is a good idea if you don’t have access to water. There are heated bird baths as well if you wish. Warm water can be added to prevent freezing or to break down any thin ice. You’ll be a blessing to the birds, as this Northern Mocking Bird poses for a picture in a heated bird bath.

The benefits of creating safe havens to protect nature’s creatures

Winter can be hard on small animals like birds and squirrels. You can ensure that these animals survive winter by providing them with a safe place to call home. You can help to protect wildlife in your area by creating a winter habitat in your yard. It is easy to make your yard more welcoming for wildlife during winter months.