For gardeners wanting an alternative to chemical sprays, a soil-applie…
Winter is one of the harder seasons for garden wildlife. Natural food becomes scarce, cold weakens smaller animals quickly, and many species rely on undisturbed shelter to see them through to spring rather than active foraging.
Whole peanuts should be avoided if fledglings are likely to be fed them directly, as they present a choking risk; a mesh feeder that breaks nuts into smaller pieces is the safer option. Hygiene is just as important as food choice: cleaning feeders regularly and moving their position from time to time helps reduce the build-up of bacteria that can spread between visiting birds.
Placement decides whether the house gets used at all. A fixed position at around waist to head height, facing south or south-east to catch the morning sun, and sheltered from driving rain and strong wind, gives insects the stable conditions they need. Once occupied, the house is best left undisturbed through the nesting and overwintering period.
Leaving a few deliberately untidy corners does more good than a uniformly neat border. A patch of long grass, a stack of logs left to slowly rot down, and leaf litter left in place over winter all provide shelter for insects, amphibians and small mammals that a fully cleared garden furniture simply cannot offer.
For gardeners wanting an alternative to chemical sprays, a soil-applied option is worth considering as a first step, and a good starting point is a range of slug nematodes for gardens suited to the pest in question.
Different nematode species target different problems. Some are used against slugs, others against vine weevil grubs feeding on plant roots in containers and borders, and others against chafer grubs or leatherjackets damaging lawns. Because they are pest-specific, the right choice depends on identifying which pest is actually causing the damage.
Whole peanuts should be avoided if fledglings are likely to be fed them directly, as they present a choking risk; a mesh feeder that breaks nuts into smaller pieces is the safer option. Hygiene is just as important as food choice: cleaning feeders regularly and moving their position from time to time helps reduce the build-up of bacteria that can spread between visiting birds.
Placement decides whether the house gets used at all. A fixed position at around waist to head height, facing south or south-east to catch the morning sun, and sheltered from driving rain and strong wind, gives insects the stable conditions they need. Once occupied, the house is best left undisturbed through the nesting and overwintering period.
Leaving a few deliberately untidy corners does more good than a uniformly neat border. A patch of long grass, a stack of logs left to slowly rot down, and leaf litter left in place over winter all provide shelter for insects, amphibians and small mammals that a fully cleared garden furniture simply cannot offer.
For gardeners wanting an alternative to chemical sprays, a soil-applied option is worth considering as a first step, and a good starting point is a range of slug nematodes for gardens suited to the pest in question.
Different nematode species target different problems. Some are used against slugs, others against vine weevil grubs feeding on plant roots in containers and borders, and others against chafer grubs or leatherjackets damaging lawns. Because they are pest-specific, the right choice depends on identifying which pest is actually causing the damage.
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