Our Top 10 ways to rewild your garden

Rewilding your garden has become an increasingly popular trend and is the perfect way to create your very own natural and sustainable oasis. Rewilding helps increase species biodiversity of plants, animals and vital microorganisms in your soil. Whilst also being a natural solution to climate change.

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Rewilding your garden has become an increasingly popular trend and is the perfect way to create your very own natural and sustainable oasis. Rewilding your garden helps to increase species biodiversity of plants, animals and vital microorganisms in your soil. Whilst also being a natural solution to climate change. Increasing the amount of woodlands, plants and improving soil conditions all help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Making it a simple way you can do your part to fight climate change at home. Growing native plants, making a home for local wildlife and sitting back and letting nature do its thing can also be one of the best ways to enjoy your garden.

Here our top 10 ways to help your on your rewilding journey 

Let it Grow

One simple and low maintenance way to start your garden rewild is to put down the lawn mowers and let your grass grow. Lawns can be one of the least sustainable aspects of any garden, due to the energy used for mowing them and the water needed to keep them looking lush. Longer grass is not only beautiful but it will also cope better with dry summers and wet winters. As well as being a great way to attract wildlife and increase biodiversity.  This also applies to weeds. Letting weeds grow can do wonders for increasing biodiversity and enhance your garden's natural beauty. Dandelions for example can support over 50 insect species. 
Start by only mowing the grass no more than once a month. But less is best. 
Not ready to go full wild? Pick sections or a corner of your garden that you can transform into a wildflower meadow or a wild corner. 

2. Cut the chemicals

One reason behind the huge loss of insects is the increasing use of pesticides and herbicides. Switch to natural fertilizers like seaweed feed or even better your own compost. It is also important to switch to mulching. Digging over soil in our beds and borders, destroys and disturbs the vital micro-organisms that sustain plant life. Regular mulching instead by adding organic matter such as compost on top of the soil, helps to keep things in balance, eliminating the need to then add artificial fertilizers. 

4. Think outside the lawn

Your lawn is a great starting point for rewilding. But down be afraid to think outside the lawn and wild those often forgotten areas. Adding a green roof to your shed or garden room can be a fun way to add biodiversity and create habitats for local wildlife. As well as being a great way to soak up rainwater and aid air quality. Whilst also helping it to blend in with your garden aesthetic. 
Tip: be sure to check if your existing shed is strong enough to take the weight of a green roof. 
Another great way to wild your garden is to make use of vertical space. Adding plants to any fence or garden walls is a great way to make the most of your space and transform even a small urban garden into a beautiful slice of nature. Fix trellises and wooden ladders to the wall to help plants climb up. Ivy and Wisteria can be great low maintenance ways to wild your garden walls and fences. Alternatively you can simply add planters, pots and hanging plants to transform your vertical spaces. 

5. Make a home for wildlife

There are many ways you can easily make your garden a home for wildlife. 
Bring birds into your garden by adding a few bird feeders and elevated water features around your garden to increase the wildlife count. It can be good to have a mix of hanging and flat elevated bird feeders to attract different bird species. Birds are both beautiful additions to your gardens but are great for insect control. 

Adding bug hotels, piles of sticks, creating small log piles or adding rocks to your garden. Are all fantastic ways to provide shelters for a range of insects. If you are in an area with hedgehog's you can add a hedgehog hut. (If you want to bring hedgehogs into your garden, set up a wildlife corridor by planting hedges, leaving pathways and little gaps between the neighbouring properties to allow creatures to roam freely and safely).

6. Create wild corners

Not ready to go full wild, creating wild corners can be a great way to start. Simply pick a corner and let nature do its thing. It will soon become a natural and wild paradise. To speed along the process, you can add any of the other suggestions to make an even bigger wild impact. 

7. Embrace Water

Adding an area of water can be one of the most effective ways to rewild your garden. Digging a pond can provide habitat for a variety of amphibians and invertebrates. It’s also a source of water for small mammals and birds.
To stop the water from going stagnant in a pond, add pond plants to oxygenate the water. Or on a smaller scale even a large pot of water can make a big impact. 

8. Get Planting

Trees are a fantastic way to  increase your garden's biodiversity. Just one tree can create a huge variety of habitats and support an abundance of species. They also help to suck up plenty of carbon dioxide over the years. Many tree species will also happily grow in large pots making them a good solution for smaller urban gardens. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today. Plant native hedging rather than fencing for a wilder feel and opt for fruit bearing trees to attract birds and squirrels. 

9. Embrace composting

Composting is a great way to create a more sustainable and bio-diverse garden. your garden waste to your compost pile or bin and you’ll eventually be able to add the nutrient-rich compost back to your soil to complete the circle.

10. Create a pollinators paradise

To create a pollinator paradise, grow plants with nectar and pollen and opt for flowers labelled ‘bee-friendly’. Try to select plants that provide all-round nectar, pollen, seeds and berries. Or plan a succession of flowers, so as one finishes another starts off. This helps to create a constant supply of pollen and nectar to keep pollinators in your garden year round. Flowers also help suppress unwanted weeds by taking up the space in the soil. Their roots bring up nutrients that can support your soil and are particularly beneficial for vegetable plants. 
If you want to make your garden extra bee friendly look into creating bee hotels or nests.
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