If you don’t do 7 simple steps this month – animals and your garden will suffer, says wildlife expert
AS the golden hues of October (and a fair bit of rain) grace our gardens – it’s a good month to invite vital wildlife in.
With caterpillar, insect, slug and snail populations dropping off drastically, there’s a lot less food to go round.
And coupled with colder temperatures, the need for shelter, nourishment and water for the remaining bugs, birds, beetles and mammals increases.
Remember we need the wildlife to pollinate, pest control, provide waste management and recycle nutrients in our outside spaces.
HEDGEHOGS
Hedgehogs control garden pests like caterpillars. Let them in by creating hedgehog highways linking gardens, you can even buy little hedgehog homes and just be careful they’re not hiding in piles of leaves you’re about to burn/grab. Provide water, cat or dog food or cat biscuits to supplement their natural diet. For advice on how to help hedgehogs, visit www.hedgehogstreet.org
BEES
They’re still about – so make sure you plant some autumn nectar for them. Asters and Verbena Bonariensis are two that also add a splash of colour to your outside space. And despite the temptation, don’t cut back all your ivy – they absolutely love it.
BIRDS
Native species, such as robins, goldfinches and blue tits will be on the hunt for food as days get shorter and colder.
Get some feeders up -filled with high-energy foods such as sunflower seeds, fat balls, and suet cakes. and keep water baths topped up.
It’s also a good time to clean or put up new nest boxes for shelter. Leave seed heads on plants like sunflowers and teasels to provide food.
Kirk Rothwell, from Peckish, said: “Autumn brings with it shorter daylight hours and dropping temperatures, which means wild birds
need to work extra hard to find a meal. We want to remind the public that now is the time to really take a little more time to care for our feathered friends.
“Wild birds’ natural food sources deplete in very cold conditions, and some small birds can lose up to 40 per cent of their fat stores in just one cold night. Provide them with high protein, fatty foods to help them build up fat reserves to help survive the winter.”
PLANT TREES
The Woodland Trust say native species like holly, hawthorn and rowan are all suited to small outside spaces – providing vital food and shelter for birds, insects and small mammals through the colder months.
BUG HOTEL
You can go as budget or five star as you like with this – but it essentially means creating a pile (hotel) of logs, leaves, pinecones, twigs – then waiting for the insects and minibeasts to move in. Plus they’re a great way of avoiding a tip to the trip with all your green waste.
LEAVE THE LEAVES
Gone are the days when every single leaf needed to be picked out of the garden. Not only do they provide nutrients to your soil as they rot – but they provide a much needed shelter for insects, hedgehogs and small animals.
APPLES
Don’t be tempted to pick up all your fallen apples – the rotting fruit benefits the entire ecosystem – butterflies, earwigs, thrushes, badgers, foxes and small mammals all absolutely love them.
THIS WEEK IN VERONICA'S COLUMN
Gardening news, tips, savings, and a great competition to win an Autumn bundle worth more than £200
NEWS! BEAUTIFUL Autumn colour from the trees in your gardens could take longer to appear this year – thanks to the rain.
Trees are clinging on to their leaves for longer – because of the wet spring and colder Summer.
Pamela Smith, senior national consultant for gardens and parklands at the National Trust said: “We’ve seen a real mixed bag of conditions so far this year – particularly the soggy start, but if we see a gradual drop in temperature along with more settled weather, we could expect to see a drawn-out display. However, if we get sharp, hard frosts or see further wet weather with storms, heavy rain and wind roll across the UK, that may cut any extended show short.”
NEWS! Take part in the RHS Big Seed Save – running until October 20th – by saving your own seeds and sharing them with friends and neighbours. Its a great way of getting plants for free – and trying out new ones. You could even drop some at community hubs like food banks or libraries – please contact local organisations to find out what they can accept before you do so. Or leave some out in a communal space like your flats’ reception area or garden wall.
TOP TIP! Have a look for gardening price reductions in places like Home Bargains and B&M. Many shops have slapped on huge discounts to make way for Christmas. We reported this week how B&M were flogging £8 outdoor cushions for 50p
WIN! Win an incredible Kent and Stowe Autumn Bundle – worth more than £200. You’ll have everything you need including rake, bulb planter, spade, trowel, secateurs, loppers and shears. To enter fill in this FORM or for more details visit www.thesun.co.uk/KENTSTOWE or write to PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 26.10.24 T&Cs apply.
SAVE! Get those leaves out the easy way with a £13.06 hand rake from Spear and Jackson or go for the £2.65 version by eayoly – both on Amazon
JOB OF THE WEEK Start mulching the bare soil left in beds. It helps retain moisture, keeps the soil warmer, and adds nutrients to the soil.
TOP TIP It’s unlikely your tomatoes will go red now – unless there’s some strong unexpected sun. Try putting them in a drawer at room temperature to see if they turn.