Creating a vegetable garden that welcomes wildlife benefits your plants and promotes a healthy, balanced ecosystem right in your own backyard. Try these simple ways to make your garden a wildlife haven:

Provide water sources

Set up shallow water dishes with stones or sticks for bees and butterflies to safely land and drink. Birdbaths and small ponds can also help attract birds, frogs and other beneficial creatures, providing them a place to cool off and help with pest control.

Grow a variety of plants

You can create a more resilient garden that attracts a range of pollinators and beneficial insects by growing flowers and herbs along with your vegetables. Rotating crops and planting cover crops can keep your soil healthy and support earthworms and beneficial bacteria.

Take care of the birds and the bees

Place birdhouses and bee hotels around your garden to provide nesting spots for birds and solitary bees. These tiny habitats encourage natural pollinators and pest controllers to stick around.

Avoid using chemical pesticides

Chemical pesticides can harm beneficial insects and disrupt your garden’s ecosystem. Try organic solutions to manage pests. Companion planting is also a great idea. For example, marigolds planted near tomatoes naturally repel aphids and other pests.

Visit your local gardening store to find everything you need to get started.