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Yard as Habitat
Leave the leaves. Build a brush pile. Make the yard safe at night. Cheap fixes that do real work.
A messy yard is a working yard
A yard can be habitat, and the changes that make it one are usually about doing less. A tidy lawn with no leaves, no brush, and no weeds gives wildlife less to work with.
Ecologists and the articles below make the same case from several angles. Leaves left where they fall shelter the animals living in them, and the leaf blower article covers what a blower does to them. A brush pile gives wildlife cover. A messy yard can be healthier for the environment and for you. A wildlife pond does not need the 24-inch minimum depth you see recommended everywhere.
Safety is the other half. A yard full of habitat is not much good if it is not safe at night, and some seasonal products cause harm. Fake Halloween spider webs trap birds, bats, and other wildlife, and rehabbers keep pulling animals out of them. Pumpkins left in the woods are a different problem, and the article on them covers where and how a pumpkin can work.
Pest control works without poison too. The articles here cover spiders, mosquitoes, citronella, and lawn grubs, including what works and what does not.
The last article looks past the fence line to oyster reefs, a coastal habitat built from shell.
Make space for wildlife
How to Build a Brush Pile for WildlifeHow to build a brush pile that gives wildlife cover.→The Benefits of Rewilding Your YardWhy a messy yard can be healthier for the environment and for you.→Should You Leave Leaves in Your Yard? Here’s What Ecologists SayWhat ecologists say about leaving leaves where they fall.→What Leaf Blowers Do to the Wildlife Living in Your YardWhat happens to the animals living in your leaves when the blower comes out.→Wildlife Pond Depth: What the Old Advice Gets WrongThe 24-inch minimum you see everywhere may be wrong, and this covers what to dig instead.→How to Attract Toads to Your GardenDecorative toad houses mostly sit empty. This covers what toads actually look for.→Make your yard safer
How to Make Your Yard Safe for Wildlife at NightHabitat matters less if the yard is not safe, and this covers the nighttime hazards.→Fake Halloween Spider Webs Trap Birds, Bats, and Other Wildlife. Here’s What to Hang InsteadRehabbers keep pulling owls, hummingbirds, sparrows, and bats out of fake webs. This covers what to hang instead.→Should You Leave Pumpkins Out for Wildlife? What Wildlife Agencies SayWildlife agencies keep asking people to stop leaving pumpkins in the woods, and this covers where and how a pumpkin can work.→What to Do With Old Pumpkins After Halloween (Besides Trashing Them)Your options for a pumpkin after Halloween, depending on whether it is carved, decorated, and still firm.→Pest control without poison
How To Get Rid Of Spiders Without PoisonHow to get rid of spiders indoors without poison.→Natural Mosquito Control: What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)What works for mosquito control and what does not.→Does Citronella Work? What You Should Know About Citronella PlantsWhether citronella candles, plants, and sprays do anything.→Getting Rid of Lawn Grubs Naturally: A Practical GuideA practical guide to dealing with lawn grubs without chemicals.→We email when there’s something worth knowing.
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