Biological Pest Control: Nematodes As A Chemical-Free Option

Shelter matters as much as food. A quiet, shaded corner away from foot traffic and pets, ideally backed onto a hedge or shrub border, is the right spot for a dedicated shelter. Gardeners setting one up for the first time often start by browsing hedgehog houses to see the range of designs suited to different garden sizes.

Winter is one of the harder seasons for garden wildlife. Natural food becomes scarce, cold weakens smaller animals quickly, and many species rely on undisturbed shelter to see them through to spring rather than active foraging.

A pond set up with the right planting and shelter from the outset tends to attract amphibians naturally over time. Many gardeners begin with a considered selection of pond wildlife equipment chosen to suit the size of pond they are working with.

Fish are worth thinking through carefully. Ornamental fish will happily eat frogspawn and tadpoles, so a pond intended mainly for amphibians is usually better left fish-free. Leaving some leaf litter to settle at the bottom over autumn also gives amphibians a place to shelter through the colder months.

A garden pond, even a small one, is one of the most valuable additions for wildlife. Frogs and newts use it to breed, dragonflies and damselflies lay eggs in it, and birds and hedgehogs will drink and bathe at the edges given the chance.

Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that occur naturally in soil, and certain species have been developed for use against specific garden furniture pests. Rather than acting as a broad chemical treatment, each nematode species is matched to a particular pest, seeking it out and interrupting its lifecycle with far less impact on the rest of the garden than a chemical spray.