Helping Garden Wildlife Thrive This Winter

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, our garden wildlife faces new challenges in finding food, water, and shelter. At InsectsDirect, we want to help you ensure that the birds, mammals, and insects visiting your garden are cared for as winter approaches.

Here are some simple but effective tips for supporting wildlife in the colder months ahead.

Feeding Birds in Winter

Providing extra food for garden birds is essential as natural sources become scarce. Here are some tips to keep them healthy and well-fed:

• High-Energy Foods: Offer seeds high in fat, like sunflower hearts, suet balls, and peanuts, to help birds build the energy reserves they need to survive cold nights.
• Clean Feeders Regularly: Bacteria can thrive on leftover food. To keep feeders sanitary and prevent disease, clean them with warm, animal-safe soapy water.
• Ground Feeding: Some birds prefer to feed off the ground, so scatter food in safe, sheltered areas or provide ground feeders to accommodate them.
• Feed Regularly: Once you start feeding birds, continuing through the winter months is essential as birds return to your garden expecting food and will rely on this consistent supply. Abruptly stopping may cause wildlife to waste energy searching for new feed sources, which can be detrimental in harsh conditions.

Providing Fresh Water

Water is just as important in winter as in summer, but it can be more challenging for wildlife to find with frozen ponds and birdbaths. Here’s how to help:

• Keep Water Unfrozen: If the water freezes overnight, use a shallow birdbath or dish and break the ice each morning. Placing a small ball in the water can help keep it moving and delay freezing.
• Add Pebbles or Stones: Adding a few stones to your water source will help birds stand and drink without getting wet in the freezing weather.

Creating Safe Shelters

Shelter is critical for animals during winter, and you can help create safe spaces in your garden where wildlife can hide from harsh conditions.

• Install Nesting Boxes: Birds roost in nesting boxes during winter to escape the cold. Place boxes in sheltered areas, facing away from the wind, and clean them out before winter begins to make them inviting.
• Leave Leaf Piles and Brush: Instead of tidying your garden thoroughly, leave leaf piles, brush, and log stacks. Hedgehogs, insects, and small mammals will use these materials as natural shelters.
• Don’t Disturb Hibernating Wildlife: Be mindful of areas that may house hibernating creatures like hedgehogs or bats. Once winter sets in, avoid moving piles of logs or leaves; they could be homes to your local wildlife.

Plant Winter-Resilient Trees and Shrubs

By planting shrubs and trees that offer food and shelter during the winter, you’re giving wildlife more natural resources to rely on.

• Evergreen Shrubs offer year-round cover, and their berries provide a valuable food source. Great choices include holly, ivy, and hawthorn.
• Native Plants: Choose plants that produce late-season berries, such as rowan or elder, to give birds an additional food source before the most challenging winter months hit.

Look Out for Ground-Dwelling Insects

Although insects might not be as active in winter, many species overwinter in the soil, leaf litter, or garden structures.

• Leave Insect Hotels Out: These offer insects a safe place to hibernate. Hang your insect hotels in a quiet part of your garden, away from direct wind and rain.
• Avoid Disturbing the Soil: Avoid heavy gardening or soil turning in winter, as many insects rest in the ground until spring.

Monitor Garden Visitors

Winter is a great time to observe which species are visiting your garden. Keep a journal or take pictures of birds, mammals, and other wildlife, which will help you tailor your care efforts for next year.

Following these tips, you can make your garden a winter haven for wildlife, helping them thrive even in the coldest months. From birds to insects, your support can make a real difference.