How to make a wildlife garden border

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Wildlife garden borders are a great way to get yourself started in wildlife gardening. They require much less commitment and infrastructure than an entire wildlife garden project.

Typically wildlife garden borders consist of a collection of plants beneficial to wildlife. These can be structured as typical planting designs arranging plants according to their height, colour, texture and form.

However wildlife borders are not just an arrangement of wildlife friendly plants. They can actually replicate specific habitat types found in nature.

Some typical examples of these can be meadow borders, woodland glades and even scrubland.

In this article we list some different types of wildlife garden border and how to create them.   

What are the best plants for a wildlife border?

The best plants for a wildlife garden border will attract multiple species by providing ample food and shelter. More often than not the plants will be naturally occurring to your specific region.

This means local wildlife will be familiar with the pollen, nectar, fruit, nuts and seeds they provide. However there are many non native plants which will also be very beneficial to your local wildlife.

These will typically be those that bear rich nectar and fruit! 
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The best plants for a wildlife garden border will also be collectively varied and diverse. This is to encourage as much biodiversity as possible within the planting scheme.

Trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials and annuals should combine to create multiple canopies of foliage offering plenty of shelter. For our full comprehensive list of wildlife trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials and annuals see our full list here.

​However the best plants for your wildlife garden border will depend on the type of theme or habitat you are trying to create.

Below we have broken down the different types of wildlife garden border with suggested plant species. 

Woodland edge wildlife border

​Woodland edge habitat is some of the richest wildlife habitat found in nature. If most regions across the planet were left with no human intervention they would normally revert to forest.

When sunlight reaches the forest floor it enables multiple levels of vegetation to flourish. Such circumstances occur where woodland meets other habitats such as grassland and scrubland.

These woodland edge habitats are extremely abundant in plant and animal species. Hence it is no wonder they are particularly effective themes for wildlife garden borders.

If you have a large garden you can plant small native trees which bear edible fruits, nuts and berries. Then shrubs beneficial to wildlife can be planted for extra food and shelter. The front of the borders can be planted with shade loving woodland plants.

​These woodland edge wildlife borders are extremely favourable for Insects, birds and small mammals. 
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10 plant species for a woodland edge wildlife border
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• ​Birch
• Hazel
• Crab apple
• Rowan
• Bird cherry
• Holy
• Honeysuckle
• Elder
• Hawthorn
• Chestnut 

Summer meadow wildlife border

​Wildlife meadows are more associated with grasslands than wildlife borders. However by using the correct type of plants you can easily create a meadow, habitat, effect.

This can be achieved by growing a variety of perennials, biennials and annual flowering plants beneficial to wildlife. Plants can be planted tightly on mass to create a meadow effect. This can be very visually effective with multiple blooms creating a sea of colour.

The dense and closely packed vegetation also creates lots of shelter for invertebrates, insects, birds and small mammals alike. When preparing a summer meadow, wildlife border be sure to dig in plenty of organic matter into the soil and choose a sunny site.

It may take a couple of seasons to establish the meadow border as perennials take time to become established. Make sure you remove all weeds by the roots until your flowering plants become established. 

10 plant species for a summer meadow border

• Coneflower
• Lupin
• Foxglove
• Hollyhock
• Corn poppy
• Aster
• Red hot poker
• Catnip
• Valerian
• Yarrow 

Wetland wildlife border 

​In nature wetland habitats are the lifeblood of the landscape. Streams, rivers, ponds and lakes provide water for drinking and sustain whole ecosystems and food webs.

However wetland habitat can be beneficial to wildlife on a much smaller scale. Wetland wildlife borders are perfect to create if you have a low lying, boggy area within the garden. 

These can be established around ponds or other garden water features. Even if you do not have naturally boggy soil pond liners can be laid under flower borders to create bogs and marshland.

​Furthermore surface run off from roofs and patios can be channelled into low lying planting areas. Wetland wildlife borders are perfect for encouraging a wide range of insects, birds, reptiles and amphibians. 
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10 Plant species for a wetland wildlife border
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• Yellow flag iris
• Marsh marigold
• Water forget me not
• Water mint
• Hosta
• Bog bean
• Flowering rush
• Snakes head fritillary
• Meadowsweet
• Daylilies 

Shrub border for wildlife

​Shrubs have always been popular within gardens for their broad spectrum of blooms, colours, textures and forms. However shrubs have many advantages for wildlife too!

Not only do shrubs produce food in the form of flowers, seeds and fruit they provide lots of shelter. Shrubs are perfect places for wildlife to hide and even raise their young.

In the wild, shrubs are common along woodland edge and scrubland habitats. Such environments are just as valuable to garden wildlife and are perfect for garden borders.

Wildlife shrub borders are full of bushes which look great but also serve local wildlife. Below we have included some of the best shrubs for the garden wildlife border. 
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10 plant species for the wildlife shrub border
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• Butterfly bush
• Mock orange
• Butterfly bush
• Guelder rose
• Dogwood
• Cotoneaster
• Berberis
• Cornelian cherry
• Elder
• Firehorn 

Wildlife borders for pollinators

​One of the largest recognitions in recent times is the importance of pollinator species such as bees. Pollinators ensure the pollination of flowers which is vital for the reproduction of many plants.

Many of the fruit and vegetables we consume directly rely upon a healthy population of pollinators. The worrying thing is pollinator species have seen a dramatic reduction in numbers over the past few decades.

This has led to a greater awareness of the plants which help to encourage pollinators. These plant species have become extremely popular in wildlife garden border planting schemes.

Below we have listed 10 of some of the most favourable garden plants for pollinators. 
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10 plant species for pollinators

• Goldern rod
• Dahilia
• Marigold
• Lavender
• Thyme
• Sunflower
• Borage
• Comfrey
• Oregano
• Purpletop vervain 

Edible wildlife garden border

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An interesting way to create a wildlife border is to plant edible planting schemes. Most plants which are edible for people are also edible for wildlife or provide valuable nectar.

Therefore if you fancy creating something sustainable and unusual an edible border could be for you. Eating from locally produced food also helps wildlife further afield.

Every year many large areas of forest or natural habitats are cleared to provide food for growing, human, populations.

Not only can edible planting feed local wildlife it can contribute to the preservation of ecosystems many miles away.

​For more information on how to create an edible garden visit our article here. 
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10 edible plants for the wildlife garden border
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• Black current
• Mulberry
• Gooseberry
• Strawberry tree
• Rosemary
• Raspberry
• Mint
• Hazel
• Artichoke
• Grapevine​

Wildlife border accessories

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Whatever type of wildlife, garden, border, you create, there is always ways to boost their habitat value. Below we have listed some great accessories to give your wildlife border a boost!
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Standing deadwood

Log piles

Mulch

Nest boxes

Rock piles

Small ponds

 Wildlife garden services

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​Buckinghamshire landscape gardeners are experts in wildlife garden design and construction.

Acting as the domestic landscaping part of Ecospaces we have over 20 years experience in ecological landscaping and sustainable construction. If you are interested in our wildlife garden services please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Our wildlife garden services include:
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• Wildlife garden design
• Wildlife garden maintenance
• Nature reserve design
• Habitat creation
• Native woodland design
• Native planting design
• Ecological planting plans
• Sustainable landscaping
• Planning for biodiversity
• Ecological masterplannng
• Hard landscaping
• Soft landscaping
• Wildlife garden consultancy

Contact us

​Thank you for reading our article on how to make a wildlife garden border! Below we have included some other, wildlife, garden, articles which may interest you. Thank you for visiting us! 

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