Welcome to the June edition of our wildlife-friendly gardening blog. 

June can be a hot month, so providing water in the garden can become increasingly important for wildlife. Topping up bird baths and providing water for hedgehogs are simple things which can have a big impact. Check out our webpage for more tips on providing water for wildlife. 

We can also help protect wildlife in our rivers, streams and reservoirs by being mindful of when, where and how we water our plants. Seedlings always need more ‘cossetting’ than established plants in borders, while pots and baskets can be especially vulnerable to drought. Watering in the early morning or late evening will mean more water goes to the roots rather than just evaporating in the heat of the day. With climate change, we all need to use water more wisely – please click here for more tips. 

Consider filling any gaps with wildlife friendly plants that can cope with hot spells. Drought tolerant plants often have silver or white down on their leaves. This creates a more reflective surface and helps keep plants such as lambs’ ears (Stachys lanata) cool. Others have thicker, fleshy leaves which can retain more water in the heat (sedums). While many coastal plants are also adapted to drier conditions (sea holly). 

June is the main flowering time for roses. Although a classic addition to any quintessential ‘English’ garden, insects will prefer simple blooms rather than showy doubles. Varieties such as ‘ballerina’, ‘Scarborough fair’ and ‘buttercup’ are all great for bees. Be warned that some of the most beautiful, bee-friendly ramblers such as ‘kiftsgate’ and ‘rambling rector’ can be very vigorous and would grow too large for a small garden unless you are prepared to prune lots! 

Thinking ahead to next year; native primroses, which have finished flowering, can be divided to provide more spring forage. This is also a good time to sow biennials for next year’s flowers –night scented stock and evening primrose are great for night-time pollinators such as moths and, in turn, provide an evening snack for bats. See our webpage for more info on how to help these fascinating creatures. 

Remember to use peat free compost when you are sowing or potting up, and please try and buy plants grown without peat – consider speaking to the nursery manager if you cannot easily find any at your local garden centre. Together we can protect our precious peatlands, which not only support rare and wonderful species but also lock up carbon and help slow climate change.  

In the wildlife garden this month, look out for red soldier beetles which are another brilliant pollinator. You may also see numbers of red admirals increase as they migrate to our shores over the channel from North Africa and continental Europe - no mean feat for a delicate insect! Did you know 19-25 June is National Insect Week? We have lots of tips on how you can help insects in the garden, so why not help celebrate ‘the little things than run the world’. 

Another insect to spot is our species of the month, the marmalade hoverfly. This amazing aeronaut has ‘hoover’ like mouthparts so tends to prefer more open-faced, flat blooms where it can land and easily suck-up nectar and pollen. Ox eye daisy, feverfew, hardy geraniums, marjoram and pot marigolds (single varieties) are all great for hoverflies and other insects too. Hoverfly larvae are voracious aphid predators, so it’s good to encourage these garden helpers by having habitats which can support all stages of their lifecycle. Boggy puddles (aka hoverfly lagoons), rotten logs and leaf litter will provide shelter for a variety of species. 

Come and join our growing community of wildlife-friendly gardeners! If you take at least six actions for wildlife, you can apply for a lovely garden plaque and help us get as many people gardening for wildlife as possible. 

Look out for more wildlife friendly and sustainable gardening tips in next month’s blog. 

Thank you for helping wildlife. Working together we can help create a Wilder Dorset!