Get ready to step outside and see your garden in a whole new way! RHS National Gardening Week (27th April – 3rd May) is the perfect time to get curious and discover the wildlife in your garden.
As part of our 'Make It Bloom' campaign, we're encouraging gardeners to look beyond blooms and borders to supporting biodiversity at home.
Whatever the size of your space, you can create a garden that’s beautiful to look and buzzing with life too. Here's a few easy ideas to get you started...
Plant a pollinator patch
One of the easiest ways to welcome wildlife into your garden is planting nectar-rich flowers in borders, pots or baskets.
Start by choosing a mix of flowers that will bloom across the year. Hellebores and crocuses are great for early bees while alliums and salvias will feed pollinators through the summer months. Echinacea, rudbeckia and verbena provide nectar late into the autumn, when little else is flowering. For a full selection of pollinator-friendly plants and seeds look out for the yellow RHS bee logo when you shop.
Want to try something new? Plant night-scented flowers such as honeysuckle and jasmine, to attract moths and other evening pollinators. Choose a spot close to doors or paths so you can enjoy it too!
Add water for wildlife
Water is essential for birds, bees and insects, especially in warmer weather.
A shallow dish topped up regularly is a great place to start. If you’re feeling creative, try making a simple pond in a pot or container - an easy project that will attract frogs, insects and other wildlife to your garden. Amphibians enjoy snacking on slugs, so ponds are a great way to introduce some natural pest control into your garden too.
Let nature lead
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step back and let your garden grow a little more naturally.
Leave a patch of grass to grow longer to give shelter to beetles and grasshoppers, let the bees enjoy those dandelions and keep seed heads on plants to feed garden birds. A small pile of logs or stems tucked into a quiet corner can also offer a safe space for worms and other insects. Who knows you may even spot a hedgehog!
Meet your garden birds
Take a moment to slow down and see who’s visiting your garden.
You might spot a blue tit searching for insects or hear birdsong you hadn’t noticed before. Planting a tree or leaving natural food sources like berries and seed heads in place can help feed birds all year-round. Birds are also natural predators of plant pests such as slugs, so encouraging them into your garden is good for your flowers and crops. Curious about which birds are stopping by? Sit down with a brew and identify their song with the Merlin app.
Build a bug hotel
Creating a home for insects is a fun and rewarding project for the whole family.
Use logs, twigs, hollow stems or bricks to build a simple bug hotel. It will boost biodiversity in your garden by providing shelter for beneficial insects such as ladybirds, solitary bees and beetles. Observe your insect visitors and record your findings - or draw them! A fun way to encourage children to explore nature on their doorstep.
If you don't have time to make a bug hotel, pick up one of these bee-friendly designs in your local British Garden Centre.
Every space can make a difference
From balconies and patios to larger outdoor spaces, every garden can support wildlife. A pot of thyme, a tub of marigolds or even a small container pond can help create a welcoming environment for pollinators and birds. By being curious, you can plant a garden that’s not only beautiful, but buzzing with life too.
Pop instore for more inspiration and advice this RHS National Gardening Week.
