Garden wildlife jobs for February
Most garden wildlife is still be hibernating in February, but you may spot early bumblebees or hedgehogs that have emerged early in mild weather. They will have gone without food for months, and will be hungry.
The best way to attract more wildlife to your garden is to create habitats where wildlife can feed, sleep and hibernate, such as digging a pond, growing plants for bees or making a making a log pile.
More on wildlife gardening:
- Garden wildlife jobs for April
- Six key features of a wildlife garden
- Garden wildlife identifier: beetles
Browse our list of February wildlife gardening jobs, below.
Leave food for hedgehogs
Leave out water and meat-based dog or cat food for hedgehogs that have come out of hibernation early in mild weather, as they'll be hungry. Leave the food out from dusk and cover or discard any that's left first thing in the morning to prevent flies from laying their eggs in it.
Clean out nest boxes
Clean out nest boxes to make way for prospecting birds, which usually start looking for places to raise their young in mid February. It’s never too late to erect a new nest box – a sheltered spot facing north-east is the best option.
Plant a wildlife hedge
Buy bare-root plants to create a mixed, native wildlife hedge. Species such as dog rose, guelder rose, hawthorn, hazel and wild plum make fantastic hedges, providing food, shelter and breeding opportunities for a huge range of species.
- Buy dog rose hedging from Thompson & Morgan
- Buy hawthorn hedging from Thompson & Morgan
- Buy hazel hedging from Thompson & Morgan
Buy crocuses and primroses
Buy pots of flowering crocus and primroses to feed bumblebees roused early from hibernation.
Avoid turning the compost heap
Even if conditions are mild, avoid turning the compost heap until April. Frogs, small mammals and insects may be hibernating within, and any disturbance could harm them.
- Best compost bins and the types available
Don't forget to feed birds
Leave a variety of protein- and fat-rich foods for birds every day, which they can turn to as and when they need to.
- Best bird feeders for your garden
- Buy bird food from Amazon
