Biodiversity In You Garden - Why it Matters, And How To Achieve It
Biodiversity has to be one of the most complex features of our planet, but also one of the most vital. It speaks of the great variety of life on our planet, in all its unique shapes and fascinating interactions. Sounds broad? That’s because it is! If we take a more formal look at biodiversity, it is made up of several levels. These levels start with genes, and then individual species, followed by communities of creatures and finally, entire ecosystems. These interactions are what has made the Earth habitable for billions of years, and in order for us to continue living here, we need them to continue. This is why biodiversity is so important.
Image : www.randomharvest.co.za
Why do we need to have biodiversity in our gardens?
Nature conservation begins in our own gardens, and with an increase in construction taking place all around us, there has never been a more important time to make sure your garden can provide food and shelter for as many species as possible. By having a wide range of indigenous plants, you can feed and shelter a number of insects, birds and other species that are losing their habitat due to the prolific building developments.
We share 3 easy ways you can create biodiversity in your own garden.
More Plants, Less Lawn
If you have large areas of lawn in your garden, why not break them up with some plants? By adding some flowerbeds and filling them with gorgeous indigenous plants, you are not only making your garden more beautiful, but you are also increasing your garden’s biodiversity.
If you have windows in your home that open out onto your lawn, and you want to provide those rooms with some privacy, this is also a fabulous opportunity to increase biodiversity. In these videos below, you can see how we transformed an area that was mostly lawn by adding some lush indigenous plants that offer privacy and variation. It’s a win-win!
A Wider Variety of Plants
As South Africans, we are so fortunate to have a wide variety of indigenous plant species to choose from when we want to add plants to our gardens. In order to increase the biodiversity in your garden, try and opt for mainly indigenous plants, and include as many different species as you can – the more the merrier! Each plant provides food and shelter for a particular bird or insect, so the more you can feed and shelter, the better your garden is for the environment. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be able to enjoy seeing and hearing more beautiful birds, or watching butterflies flutter majestically around the garden? You’ll also find that because you have chosen indigenous plants that are specially adapted to our climate, your garden will be easier to care for and will truly thrive!
Invite Creatures to Your Garden
In addition to your plants that will offer food and some shelter for creatures, you can add some other items to your garden to encourage visitors. By adding birdhouses, bat boxes, birdbaths, ponds and mulch to your garden, you can expect to see many happy visitors enjoying it. The animals and insects will, in turn, add value to your garden, not only in them being there but by pollinating your plants and adding compost and manure from their droppings. We share 5 ways to attract birds to your garden here.
Biodiversity Garden Makeover
We recently transformed the outdoor area outside one of our bedrooms to increase the biodiversity in our garden. Originally we just had the lawn and some hedging, and now we have a variety of indigenous plants, as well as more privacy in front of the window. Which do you prefer?
When choosing the plants, we had to consider the great benefits of biodiversity in the garden, the amount of sun that the area got (full sun in the morning but lots of shade quickly thereafter), something lush and green to look onto from the window, and also plants that would screen the window with a bit of privacy. We also wanted to create a tiered effect. We chose a tall variety of plant, Psychotria capensis, as the screening shrub. Its leaves are beautifully green and shiny throughout the year. Underneath that, we planted a medium-sized shrub known as Justicia Betonica. This shrub has rewarded us with gorgeous, yet unusual flowers. As a groundcover beneath the two taller shrubs, we planted Plectranthus verticillatus (below left) and Cyperus albo-striatus (below right). Both of these plants thrive in share and provide a beautiful groundcover.
With the International Day for Biological Diversity coming up on 22nd May, we want to highlight the importance of biodiversity in our gardens, and how easy it is to achieve.
We’ll be sharing some great tips and tricks on our social media pages, but you can also contact our team at Eco Balance Landscaping should you have any questions or need any assistance.