Want to create a garden buzzing with life? No matter how big or small your green space, certain shrubs can turn it into a haven for wildlife! 🌿🐝
Plant the right shrubs and you’ll attract everything from beautiful butterflies to buzzing bees. Ceri Thomas, a gardening expert, highlights how choosing the right plants can protect and shelter a variety of garden visitors all year round. Here are a few top picks to consider adding to your outdoor space this summer:
1. **Hebe**: Originally from New Zealand, this sun-loving evergreen is a hit with pollinators like bees and hoverflies. With about 100 species out there, Hebes are low-maintenance and only need a trim in late summer. Bonus: their evergreen leaves give shelter to small birds all year!
2. **Elder (Sambucus)**: These hardy shrubs are often seen along ditches and field edges. They produce bright, early summer flowers, which later turn into berries—perfect for feeding hungry birds.
3. **Buddleja Globosa**: Known as the ‘orange ball tree’ or ‘butterfly bush’, it’s a butterfly’s dream! While wild varieties can be a bit invasive, this one is easier to manage in gardens. It attracts bees by day and moths by night. For the best blooms, cut the stems back in March. The orange variety grows slower than the purple, so prune it after it flowers and let some stems stay longer over winter for insects to enjoy.
Don’t just stop at shrubs! Consider adding bird feeders and fresh water to keep local wildlife happy and hydrated. Every little effort helps turn your garden into a bustling ecosystem.
So, grab those gardening gloves and transform your space into a wildlife retreat! 🌼🦋🌞
What’s your favourite wildlife-attracting shrub? Let us know in the comments!