[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-19-13-Wildlife-Garden.mp3|titles=EW 04-19-13 Wildlife Garden]
Using satellite images, scientists have determined that the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. is turfgrass. This is astounding, especially when considering the recurring droughts we have suffered. Some cities and states have begun to limit lawn watering during drought periods. And many homeowners have been searching for sustainable alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue.
Some families are transforming parts of their yards into vegetable gardens. Another approach is to garden for wildlife. This means planting native flowers that will attract pollinators like bees, or berry and nut bushes that will bring birds to your backyard. Provide shelter for birds and small mammals in the form of dense shrubs or brushpiles. Create a pond or other water feature to attract birds and insects like honey bees and to help recharge local groundwater.
You may think that your neighborhood is not conducive to a “wild” garden. The National Wildlife Federation offers advice on neighborhood-friendly wildlife gardens, including ways of disguising brush piles, and using paths or other design devices for a neat appearance. The organization also has a program that has certified more than 140,000 sites across the country as Certified Wildlife Habitat. Your own backyard could qualify!
If you need a financial incentive to garden for wildlife, here’s one: a recent study at Texas Tech University showed that property values increased by more than $30,000 when uncommon birds were found in the vicinity.
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Web Links
Gardening with a good-neighbor policy, National Wildlife Federation
Pollinator gardens, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/PollinatorPages/YourHelp.html
What birds indicate about home values
http://www.governing.com/topics/energy-env/gov-what-birds-indicate-about-home-values.html
Photo, taken on November 11, 2010, courtesy of Daniel D’Auria via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY, with partial support from the Field Day Foundation.