Wildlife benefits of layered planting:
Layered planting can be a great way to encourage wildlife into your garden. There are many benefits to wildlife by having a layered approach to planting:
- Habitat creation. By having varying heights of plants, they provide shelter and nesting sites for many birds, insects, and small mammals. Having a safe space for different wildlife will amazingly contribute to the biodiversity in your garden.
- Pollination. Having different layers of flowering plants leads to a much greater variety of different species of pollinators to choose from. Some pollinators are extremely specific about what plants they use to pollinate. For example, Buttercups are important for Scissor and Carpenter bees, but not for many other species.
- Bird habitats and food sources. Layered planting has nesting sites and shelter for many birds, for example Song thrushes, Robins, and Blackbirds often perch on tall plants while surveying for food. Plants which flower and produce berries are great to include in layered planting as food for many different bird species.
- Insects. A range of flowers and sheltered areas can attract insects such as Ladybugs which eat pests such as Aphids, acting as a natural pest control.
