Rewilding is the biggest gardening trend for 2024

Hagen says this may be a difficult concept to embrace, at least for those who prefer a more manicured landscape, but try to at least make a small part of your land more natural, more perfectly landscaped.

For example, Hagen plants oak saplings on the edge of his garden and mows around the nesting areas of solitary bees. You could also mow less frequently or turn a small section of your lawn into a grass garden.

This is probably one of the most important things we can do, Goss says: Reducing our use of pesticides and fertilizers will attract beneficial insects and prevent excess fertilizer from entering our waterways.

If you still want to keep a traditional lawn, at least get a soil test to make sure you’re not overusing products and know what you don’t need to add.

Related article: Is homemade vinegar weed killer safe?

When it comes to planting, Hagen suggests removing any invasive plants, which include common plants like black locust, ivy, orange daylily, honeysuckle and Bradford pear.

Though they may look pretty, these and other invasive plants are problematic because they spread quickly, choking out native plants, disrupting the natural diversity and balance of an area and reducing food sources for native wildlife.

Related article: 12 Invasive Plants to Remove from Your Yard Now

Habitat loss and other factors have led to many species struggling to survive. For example, many bat populations have declined in recent years due to factors including habitat loss, wind turbines and the devastating fungal disease White Nose Syndrome (WNS).

Make your yard more hospitable by providing shelter for these animals, such as bat boxes, beehives, wren houses, bluebird nesting boxes, etc. A brush pile at the back of your property can also provide shelter for many species of animals.

While setting up bird feeders is a good idea, it’s really for your benefit and enjoyment, says Hagen. Even more helpful is providing other food sources for birds to forage for, such as by not picking flowers like echinacea and planting shrubs for protection and shade.

Note: Birds will benefit from having feeders set out year-round to provide extra food for the winter.

Related article: 26 Best Flowers for Hummingbirds

Animals need all kinds of habitats, Hagen says: open spaces, perennials, shrubs, trees, etc. Planting different heights and types of plants creates ecological diversity that can support different insects, amphibians, birds, and animals of all kinds.

Instead of letting rainwater run off your roof or property directly into drains (and into your local streams or rivers), Goss suggests creating rainwater gardens.

Rain gardens are shallow depressions planted with native plants (such as swamp milkweed) that don’t mind wet soil. Rainwater gardens slow water runoff, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for native plants.

The best way to foster a connection with nature, Goss says, is to spend time in your space. Observe the sunlight at different times of the day to choose the right plants for the right places. Learn what birds and insects visit. Feel and smell the soil to get an idea of ​​what type of soil you have.

Getting familiar with my own little piece of nature makes me feel more connected and motivated to garden for diversity and rewilding.