Lawns form the heart of most gardens. Most lawns are made up from intricate mixes of grass varieties. But from a pollinator perspective lawns are a monoculture and although some grasses are larval plants for some moth species and grass does make pollen, grasses are wind-pollinated and not ideal food plants for most insects. However, the other plants that grow within a lawn, that you might detest, or class as weeds, are actually vital early spring food plants for our pollinator pals.
Next time you reach for the strimmer to cut back long grass or areas in the garden that have grown a bit wild, STOP and take a few minutes first to check that you are not disturbing sleeping or nesting wildlife, in particular, hedgehogs.
The bulbs are shooting, the daffodils are appearing and Spring is just around the corner. The daylight is increasing and we are about to see the emergence of further shoots to bring our gardens back to life. We have recently had a cold spell here in Wales which has given us an opportunity to start to think about the season ahead.
The gardening season has arrived: Guess what's coming next!
What are the best seeds to plant this season?
Learn about the most suitable vegetables and flowers to plant each month, and the easiest ways to take care of them. Check out our magazine for expert advice!
However large or small your garden is, it could make a 'life-saving' difference for your local wildlife. This is especially true in January, which is often the coldest month and when natural food sources are thin on the ground. Read our guide on creating vital ‘green corridors’ that link towns, parks and the countryside with people’s gardens.
During the colder months, we do everything we can to protect our lawn and plants. But what can we do for the insects who call our garden home?
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STIGA becomes Hedgehog Aware!
Next time you reach for the strimmer to cut back long grass or areas of the garden which have grown a bit wild, take just a few extra minutes to make sure you’re not going to be disturbing sleeping wildlife, in particular hedgehogs.
Shakespeare mentions over 100 native wildflowers in his complete works. Sadly, however, we have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows in the past century, with a knock-on effect to many species of birds and insects. It’s estimated that meadows and other species-rich grasslands now cover less than 1% of the UK.
