Easy wildlife garden tips - they'll really make a difference

[@anneluepken5369]

My 2 favourite gardening gurus in one video!

[@karlitobergkamp8082]

Joel’s channel is brilliant and has helped me a lot. I genuinely think people like Joel really don’t get the exposure they deserve because If we all listen to his advice more we’d all have amazing gardens whilst helping out wildlife.

[@coloradotulips]

Alexandra, I appreciate how you arrange your videos and include time stamps. I find your advice, tips, and beautiful tours to be most helpful and interesting. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@alisonburgess345]

Joel's channel is fantastic! Go Joel. This is gold.

[@francineh.7825]

Well we just had a snowstorm for the past 3 days in central Canada that dropped 50cms of snow so it is really important I keep my bird feeders full. I think I need to move to the UK where April is warmer!! 🌼

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It really is warm at the moment, certainly.

[@shawneenhammer4241]

✌️❤️Hi from North Dakota. We are through the worst of the storm. I wish I would've gotten my beds ready before they got all covered with ft of snow ☃️

[@francineh.7825]

@@shawneenhammer4241 Was a crazy storm that's for sure!!

[@gardengatesopen]

Love this guy! And your bird houses look FAB on that wall too! He's THE guy to help with your wildflower lawn too!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! I shall be interested to see if the birds agree.

[@nikierohrer2001]

Happy Easter all you wonderful gardeners!🌸

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Happy Easter.

[@PatriciaG99]

the water in my garden is such a magnet for birds and insects. They're great to watch

[@shirleyparker4829]

I have 15 mature 70ft sycamores on the south end of my garden. 😩 BUT ....... I’ve planted it up as a summer shade spring garden because in the summer it’s very deep shade. I have snow drops, wood violets, wood anemones, hellebores, daffodils, narcissus, periwinkle, variegated nettle, cyclamen, crocus, saxifrage, forget-me-nots, snakehead fritillary and aubretia. Forsythia, spiraea golden flame, fatsia japonica, acers and a cherry tree as structural items. I also have moss covered rocks surrounded by ferns. I allow daisies and buttercups to grow too. I love daisies! 🥰 I plant a little more every year and plants and bulbs are all nicely naturalising. Hope this inspires some of you. 😁👍🏻 xx

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds lovely!

[@garykandmimisgarden1662]

I really love your channel. I have gardened for over 60 years in a couple of different zones here in the US. My advice to those who want to attract wildlife into their garden is to really weigh the pros and cons. Yes, there are cons! That cute rabbit will eat your veg and usually your most prized perennials in a skinny minute. Deer can deforest an area through their grazing not to mention your young fruit trees. Water does attract wildlife but picture your pond all muddy with all your potted waterlilies ripped out(nightly) when a racoon decides he wants to swim. Not to mention the lawn that will have dug up patches every night when that racoon forages for worms. In the southern US bugs can be a real problem: termites, palmetto bugs(3 inch roaches), carpenter ants and bees. Carpenter bees will destroy a wooden pergola in about 5 years, termites even sooner. I still like to attract wildlife to my garden but there are some expectations that had to be adjusted along the way.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think that's a very fair comment - there is wildlife and there is wildlife, and many of you have to deal with some really difficult wildlife problems. But in towns and cities where so much habitat has been lost and pollinators are declining, then more wildlife friendliness probably won't bring the worst problems out.

[@juliepardo7767]

Excellent tutorial, Alexandra. And thank you to Joel Ashton for such helpful advice!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juliepardo7767]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Very helpful, thank you.

[@maryanna6302]

I love your attempt to get him to soften his stance on mowing! I have a large back lawn which I mow every two weeks in the growing season, but a few areas within it don't grow much grass anymore, I'm going to mow around these spots leaving a square or rectangle area unmown and try sowing some clover and wildflower seeds...can't hurt and it might work, I hope! 🙏💚

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds like a good idea!

[@folee_edge]

OMG I was just watching Joel save some frogs! He's great!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

He is!

[@ollvebranch]

I have an enclosed town garden by the coast. My garden is very immature with all trees and shrubs still pretty much in their adolescence. Putting in a a variety of feeders has attracted a community of starlings which have been such fun to watch since last spring and over this winter. Their shenanigans as they bicker over everything is like watching reality TV - and the variety of their birdsong, more than makes up for the ridiculous amount of mess! Not much of any other bird comes through though. No sparrows, finches, robins or thrushes and only the odd blackbird or blue-tit venture in now and then. Unfortunately, I do attract an army of pigeons which hang about under the feeders as the starlings lose twice as much as they eat. I only occasionally now lay down ground food as the pigeons hoover it up like termites! A foghorn of gulls and various corvids looking for a quick mealworm lunch or baby starling takeaway is my lot right now, until my garden grows! Oh and all the sphinter-less bird mess that accompanies them all!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I love watching the starlings too - they are so ruthless, untidy and argumentative.

[@susanschellberg4509]

Very informative. We have a small pond in our garden and the amount of wildlife it supports is astounding. We are in a busy urban area so it is delightful to attract so many different birds, butterflies, insects, toads and frogs.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sounds brilliant!

[@lesliekendall5668]

Are you going to try the wet cardboard and compost wildflower garden on your front patch of lawn this year? If adding only compost is too expensive, you, well in my city, you can get wood chips for free and put down a relatively thick layer of that and then a thinner layer of compost on top. Rake, then sow a wildflower mix of seeds, walk on the area on a large piece of cardboard to "set" the seeds and you'll have a beautiful meadow this summer! The UK probably has one, too, but in the US, there's a company called "American Meadows" that has wildflower seed packets (also in bulk) that are separated into specific climate zones and dry vs shady area packets. Last fall, after everything had gone to seed and died, I pulled up the tall woody stemed flowers and let everything sit there over winter and this spring I added more wet cardboard on any spots where the grass had found its way through, added more compost, and plan to re-sow the leftover mix on it when it's time. Also, since I buy everything online, I saved the boxes so the cardboard I laid down was also free. I'd love to see a video on the process and the lovely wildflower garden it produces for you this summer. Look up how Geoff Lawton in Australia taught us to do it. He's a no dig permaculturist who's taken his method throughout the world, including the greening of deserts!

[@kevinking7860]

I have the book its brilliant always follow joe on u tube !!!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It's very good, yes.

[@lesliekendall5668]

I stopped mowing my lawn a year or two ago and I'm trying to think if I even watered it once because it retains the moisture so much better. AND we had an entire 100°+ drought last summer. It's only when the clover began getting into the strawberries that I took out the weed eater and in a quick few seconds had it trimmed back. It's actually funny that the reason I stopped watering was because my mother was COMPLAINING about the water bill (I manage and live in an extra family property) so I said "fine, if you want a dead lawn". And since I didn't mow it, figuring it was going to die anyway, it ended up being the best thing for it. 😆. No work, no inflated summer water bill. Who'da thunk?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's such a good point, and I've heard it before. Jane Moore at the Bath Priory Hotel keeps half the lawn wild and the other half mown, and she says the wild side copes with drought so much better.

[@texasgeeg5972]

Loved this, Alexandra. Thank you for another wonderful video. Between you, Linda Vater, and Laura from Garden Answer, our small neglected urban back garden is so much prettier. Now I need to go find some climbers for wildlife. Besides squirrels, that is.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! and agree about squirrels.

[@heatherstephens9295]

I just love your brick wall ❤️

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@ellyharris]

Love this video so much. You have such a lovely gentle interview technique and you have such interesting thoughtful guests.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@judymooney2993]

In the Southeast US, (.33 acres) we have bird baths scattered around the garden and a bubbler fountain , lots of bushy plants, bird feeders, trees of various species, pollinator plants and of course bird houses. We are members of the Certified National Wildlife Federation but are always looking for more ways to support wildlife and the environment. Thank you for your great videos.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Sounds excellent, interesting to hear about the Certified National Wildlife Federation

[@anitahadley2871]

I got a beautiful birdhouse about 4 months ago. I now have a sweet blue bird family nesting inside! I also have two baths and several feeders. Right now my mahonias are loaded with berries and we have a flock of cedar waxwings that come in the evenings for dinner.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

How lovely!

[@bluesky7226]

Lovely! I'm loving your beautiful brick wall! Happy Easter! 💖

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! You too!

[@hollymcnamara9993]

Our lawnmower is broken but I might leave it that way for a while and let the lawn grow wild 🥰

[@lesliekendall5668]

I quit using my lawn mower a couple years ago. If there's a small bit that's overwhelming another plant, I just use the weed eater to trim it back. The lawn also needed MUCH less watering because the long grass shades itself and doesn't go dry like a manicured lawn.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Ours is too! It's just sitting in the hall!

[@jucjuc314]

We moved into a big new built area, so seeing wildlife appearing more and more in my garden is heartwarming every time (especially because I love birds). We have cole tits nesting in the box, we installed. Blackbirds love digging, hiding under the hornbeam hedge in the mulched area. Goldfinches, magpie, black redstart, robin, blue tit coming regularly to get a drink. 😊Not to mention wild- and honeybees coming and visiting the abundance of flowers I have. It is more of a cutting/ pretty garden, not a wild one, but plenty of varieties, no one leaves hungry or thirsty 🤗 Great video! Thank you Alexandra! Greetings, Judit

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Variety is wonderful for wildlife, I believe the RHS is now recommending it.

[@tedeum6710]

Thanks so much for this lovely and informative video ! This touches my 2 absolute passions - animals and gardens ! MANY Thanks !!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HigherChannel]

I dont need bird boxes, or any bird feeders. We have tall headges and trees in and outside of our garden, and many birds like sparrows, robins, black birds and pigeons live inside them and already feed of the nature. There are owls as well. With the pond, I just improvised with a shallow dish, put water and twigs in it, to create slime, tucked it between 2 watering cans down the hedge, and covered to create an environment for frogs and hedgehogs.

[@brucegelman5582]

Thank you! Hummingbird feeders in my garden and doves nesting in a palm tree out front here in San Antonio Texas....

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

How lovely!

[@DownButNotOutYet]

Morning Alexander, so nice to listen to all the gardening tips, some I have forgotten about!! The placing of various accommodations for all our wildlife is really very important and it is better to get or read or research properly to avoid silly mistakes. The wildlife book is lovely and I am sure many do's and don'ts can be gathered. Seeds for the wild birds do become pricy, I like to plant some sorghum so they can come and sit and peck what they need. A pity about the collapsed pergola, that corner looks like a perfect spot to sit and just watch what's happening in your own yard. We all like changes, there is always a way to rebuild another in future. As always thank you for sharing and showing how things are done. Hope you had an enjoyable Easter. Kind regards.

[@BeautifulOaks]

I like the bird box idea for your northern wall. I hope it be a source of joy.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'm looking forward to a bird moving in, though our birds seem to think about something for a very long time before they make a move. Wise of them, I think.

[@jomarielopez2229]

Love this information! I have a birdfeed that is now close to a tree and there are so many bird visitors! A bird bath that is actually being used! No pesticides. Good to know about adding to the garden instead of removing plants! We have enough pollinators around so plenty of bees and butterflies too! Well done!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@doyoueverstop]

We bought our house in Newnham 16 months ago and luckily, we inherited quite a good wildlife based garden from the previous owners, its not quite there so we will be making some changes, however, the last 65' of the garden was a blank canvas, there was a dilapidated shed and a huge raised decking area, which was also in a poor state of repair. We removed the shed and the decking and we've put in a native hedgerow along the back, a native rose hedge down one side, I've built a dead hedge along part of the other side and I'm currently building a raised bed constructed of logs, this will be filled with the top soil that will come from the pond excavation, other blank fences will be covered with trellis that will protrude about 5" from the fence, giving enough space for birds to roost and nest behind. We've also planted a Rowan tree in this area and I'm going to try and get another one in to give them a bit of balance.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That all sounds excellent!

[@annebuchanan3200]

I’ve learned a lot watching Joel’s channel. I was intrigued to learn the house sparrow is on your red list because they are an invasive bird to us in Canada. It’s one of only a couple of species that are not protected here. I just added some guards and wire on top of a birdhouse to keep them from using it. They are very abundant but are harming many of our native birds. The story goes that some guy decided he wanted all the birds that Shakespeare wrote about. Many didn’t survive but house sparrows and starlings did and made their way all over the US and up to Canada. They are bullies. Too bad we couldn’t ship them all back for you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I understand that they were originally imported to reduce the caterpillar population, clearly a huge mistake - it just shows that there's no such thing as a bad animal or bad plant, just a plant or animal that's in the wrong place.

[@itsmewende]

I subscribed to Joel after your last visit with him, I really enjoy his channel as well. This was great, loved the advice he offered, I could add some birds boxes to my yard. I hope you and yours are having a nice weekend.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! And I hope you are having a good weekend, too.

[@glen4075]

What a lovely video. Thanks Alexandra. I have bird box. Hadn’t thought about bat boxes though. Next on my list now 😊👍

[@flowerpixel]

Always love your wildlife videos!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you like them!

[@curriesforlife1827]

Interesting topic; lot of wonderful tips .thanks 👍

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@alisonvanwyk4348]

I feed the birds and have plenty of birdbaths. Crepes trees and shrubs for nesting .

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

So essential, you have lucky birds!

[@scotchcrofter9964]

Awesome tips. :D

[@drawyrral]

Thank you for another great little show.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@beena8510]

Thanks for the tips 👌👌

[@folee_edge]

Thanks!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, too! Happy Easter.

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

Happy Easter! I was glad to see wrens flying around my daylilies and german iris foliage. Here in SC those plants are already rather bushy.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Wrens! How delightful! Happy Easter!

[@botanicaltreasures2408]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Yes, they were a treat to see. You too!🌿

[@fionaproctor6330]

Very informative! Thank you Alexandra ❤️

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@tzuamourshihtzu9871]

If I have a relatively new hopps still in a pot do I still have to cut that back in the winter?

[@barbkenas5663]

Great tips!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad it was helpful!

[@olsonlr]

I think you should put a big pond in that troublesome corner.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a thought - but I'm concerned about getting a water supply there as we have very dry summers

[@chrisdaniels3929]

I wonder how to create a small pond that's safe for children. I'd like to attract the local frogs. What cover would keep them safe from cats and dogs?

[@georgiacinq-mars1899]

House Sparrows are red listed? We have so many here in the US that they drive out native birds.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I have just learned that they were introduced to the US to eat caterpillars - such an example of how introducing non-indigenous flora and fauna can upset the eco-system. But here their numbers have been falling, and they are a part of our eco-system.

[@1957lindag]

I have my bird feeders and love watching the variety of birds that use them my problem is grey squirrels they are such a nuisance they are digging in my pots and eating some of my bulbs too I bought a chilli spray but it's not bettered them any advice please Alexandra on h ow to keep them out of my garden

[@1957lindag]

Dettered not bettered**

[@47433a]

Squirrels don’t eat safflower seeds unless there is absolutely nothing else. So i fill my bird feeders with safflower seeds, and squirrels leave it alone until the end of Feb-early March. They typically start to visit the bird feeder with safflower in March,

[@LinusCello75]

Adding perches to attract raptors. The gray squirrels are digging up everything.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good point!

[@jeff2424]

An interesting video, but deer, squirrels, and rabbits can be very destructive in the garden, and I've been doing everything possible to discourage that type of wildlife! I wonder if Joel has any comments how to de-wild a garden?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good point! It is difficult to sort the destructive wildlife from the non-destructive type - with deer, I gather it really is only fencing that does it.

[@mytherapygarden3909]

As I plant more native plants, the more wildlife creatures I see in the garden.

[@zonabrown9241]

Im in Australia & i see lots of sparrows down near our beach

[@kirstianwhite6331]

I would not use Hops! It takes over a huge area and is almost impossible to get rid of. When you try to get the root runners out of the ground they just break into many pieces. I have been trying for years to get rid of it.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's definitely a good point!

[@paulinecrispin121]

We are in Dorset. There is not way my husband will stop mowing our lawn. Sorry about that 😕

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think many people feel the same.

[@Bow-to-the-absurd]

That shady wall is crying out for a well trained hydrangea petiolaris, and even rose madame alfred carierre .

[@ourlifeedited6441]

4:05 I laughed out loud. 😅

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I almost cut it, but I know that many people like the look of a mown lawn, as I do myself....perhaps it's just helpful to debate it!

[@joansmith3492]

would a little pond work in your shady spot?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'd like to put one there, but there's no water supply nearby and I wouldn't like it to dry out in dry summers. But I'll keep thinking about it.

[@Ted99701]

Really like this channel, I'd just like a bit more of Alexandra, bit less of the experts, just think she is an excellent narrator

[@folee_edge]

PNW: DO NOT PLANT IVY - it's invasive. Try orange honeysuckle, ironwood, or whitebark raspberry.

[@kruczek4646]

I have a garden in Poland. Ivy isn't invasive in my 6b zone😉 and bees love its autumn flowers😍

[@melissahofer2377]

Depends on where you live. I have 20+ year old ivy in Utah that's well contained

[@laurenb6451]

I was mowing my Mom’s lawn obviously in the daytime and a bat flew right into my face! Very upsetting and I needed to get Rabies shots that made me feel awful. No thank you to bat boxes!!!🙁

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Oh, dear, that is such a shame. But really quite rare, I believe, but a horrible experience for you.

[@mollie3244]

I would smother me mother for those beautiful old brick walls. I do like this guy and I'm digging a pond out now as per his instruction vids but I hope he doesn't have you cover the walls completely.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree, I love the wall so it won't be completely covered (which it was before, when the pergola was up).

[@mollie3244]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Good. Having said that, I have a clematis "winter beauty" outside my kitchen window, growing over a not really beautiful garage wall. Lovely little white bells for months from Jan. It is rampant and evergreen. I'd highly recommend it. Thanks for posting the vids and I hope your lovely garden comes back to its former glory soon. We're all at the point of trying a rain dance ;).

[@michellecjackson4956]

birds are messy, and scatter the seed everywhere and it will root and grow, beware, also all the seed on the ground may call rats and mice, so beware

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

Be careful about invasive plants.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, that's often a factor especially around larger tracts of wilder land

[@Cassieskins21]

Stop wasting your time and put in a green house. You know you want too! It doesn't have to be functional, use it for entertainment and beauty.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I'd love to!