Things I have learnt from my Garden
- Helena JayneG
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Having a garden is a luxury- but I would always rather have a garden than a big house. It is one of the reasons I could never live in the city!
I think a lot of television programmes and books make it seem like gardening is for posh folk, rich folk (have you seen the cost of things in the garden centre- £50 for a small pot!? No thanks!) or folk that have studied it for months and months and know a lot.
This is- to put it quite frankly, not true. I will admit I have skimmed a few books on container gardening and like to listen to advice from family members and the internet, however, getting wildlife into a garden and having a pretty little garden is a lot easier than a lot o people think!
Here are some bits and bobs I have learnt from having a garden, from things that make me smile, to creative things that work!
You don't need to buy bird feeders (but it's okay if you do!)
Me and my partner went to the charity shop to find small jugs and cups that we popped our seeds in and put string around the handle and hung up. The little birds love it and the bigger birds like the pigeons can't get in! We have seen robins and sparrows going into them! We have a few bird feeders now too though, since Cath Kidston started selling them in B&M. So cute!
Dog food packaging makes great thermal wrap for plants and bedding for birds!
If you buy frozen dog food in like Butternut Box or Different Dog, they will keep the meat in it frozen by covering it in scraps of wool. Wrap this around your plants in the winter and it will stop your containers from freezing and killing your temperamental plants. Also, pop it in those charity shop cups for the birds to make nests- it's a perfect natural alternative to buying expensive plastic bird houses too.
Pidgeon's can be tamed
People hate pigeons and I really do not know why. The two that regularly visit my garden do not bully the other birds, and I saw one sharing with a black bird the other day whilst our resident robin fed on the feeder next to her. If you are annoyed at pigeons for scaring off small birds- just give them their own feeder. They are going to come into your garden regardless if you have food and will cause chaos trying to get into those expensive feeders you bought that are 'squirrel and big bird proof'- it just doesn't work. I have given mine their own big plate of cheap seeds and I give them a handful of seeds in it every day- they don't bother going to the other feeders. Also, did you know they can recognise who feeds them? Every time I go in the garden now, the same two fly down to say hello! I have heard crows are similar- my uncle who lives next to the beach would feed the crows every day at the same time, and before long- he would be followed by a flock of crows each morning. Sort of like a vampire or something...
Trees and shrubs are a must
If you want a variety of birds in your garden, you need some big-ish shrubbery or trees! They will never go to a feeder if they aren't at least a meter or so away from somewhere to hide away if a predator comes! (And this does happen- mum caught sight of a sparrowhawk literally fly down and try eat one of her sparrows on her bird camera down the road from me- but the sparrow got away thanks to the bushes nearby!)
Bifold doors are the best thing I have ever bought
Our kitchen now has bifold doors into our little garden, and I popped my one seater sofa chair next to the window so I can write and work on the sofa whilst watching the birds outside. The light is amazing and helps you feel more awake all day! I have popped some big indoor plants next to the window on the inside too, so it feels like the garden is coming into the house!
I would never be without my swing seat
When I was little I lived abroad in Qatar with my mum, dad and brother. I have such fond memories of a swing chair we had out there, surrounded by pink flowers and greenery in the garden. When my aunty would visit from Japan, I would always rush to the window to see her, there she would be sat, looking into the garden nursing her cigarette. I would run in my pyjamas to her and she would tell me lots of stories about Japan. Ever since then, mum always made sure we had a swing seat when we came back to England. So, naturally, me and my husband bought one when we got our own place nearby. It is so relaxing to lay out there when the sun is out and read a book, and weirdly: really easy to fall asleep on!
You can sweep up leaves if you really want- but put them somewhere for the insects, not in the bin!
I will be totally honest, I only learnt this recently. We sadly still have AstroTurf down from the previous owners- so we need to sweep it or it looks quite frankly, gross. We are unsure yet whether to change to grass because of a) the cost b) it is really easy to pick our dog poop up at the moment and c) our garden is only small anyway! However, since we moved a few things around- we found a corner that we bricked around and popped a few insect houses in. Now, every time we sweep the AstroTurf, we pop the leaves and any debris into that little corner. I have seen so many insects in there already and we only started doing last Christmas!
Ponds are essential for wildlife
For me, ponds are essential- when I went on safari in Kenya, East Africa as a child with my family, I always remember the rangers saying 'Where there is water, there is life' regarding the waterholes there. So, even with our very small garden, we went to an aquatics centre and bought a teeny pond. It's only small- and incomplete at the moment- but none of our pond plants have died, our birds regularly drink out of it (we made sure we made steps up and down into it!) and it seemed like a lot more birds appeared after it came about!
Never underestimate the power of gardening
Feeling stressed? Garden. Feeling tired? Garden. Feeling annoyed? Garden! Not only is being in contact with soil and plants supposed to boost your immune system, but it also just makes you feel useful and naturally good. It's quite hard to explain, unless you have already experienced it. Even just repotting a few plants, sweeping the drive or decking, sweeping those leaves up and putting them in the insect house is enough to get the good hormones swimming around your body. I am sure if you have dogs, they will be thankful too- they love a good potter around the garden!
I hope this random little January article inspired you to do some green fingered gardening. If you don't have a garden yet, then get busy indoors with the indoor plants! I would do more of this, however, all my windowsills are full up now- I think I have about 40 different cacti varying in species! Some are two foot tall!
P.s. I am writing in this in January too- there is no excuse- get out there!
Please remember: it does not need to look 'Pinterest' perfect or 'Instagrammable'- as long as it works, you love it and you did it- then who cares!
Helena x
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