5 top gardening tips to help birds in May and June

For me, May and June are lovely months to sit and enjoy my garden. Finally the chirps of birds can be heard all around, with babies calling to be fed and fights over territories creating a perfect backdrop to the usual quiet of my Devon garden. With the longer, warmer days ahead of us, it is a joy to finally garden and be with nature. As summer is on its way, and our spring bulbs fade away, we think forward to gardening for wildlife year round to make smart, beautiful choices that are a delight to see, and for our birds and insects to eat!

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1. Planting for wildlife: Some of our top picks of flowers to plant for wildlife can be sown in May. Sunflowers seeds can be sown outside or planted ready for our finches in the autumn, and for a contrasting colour you can also plant scabious and cornflowers which attract lots of pollinators. Poppies can be planted or sown directly into the ground for another pop of colour and to attract a variety of insects. The end of May and beginning of June provide the perfect time to plant summer bedding and containers, avoiding the late frosts of spring. You can use plants that can be replanted later in the seasons such as lavender or climbing plants, or opt for bright summer staples like fuchsia and single flowered dahlias.

2. Plant fruit and veg: May and June are also key months for planting your fruit and veg which can be appreciated by your family and your resident animals alike. Strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries are good to plant, ready for jam season when it comes around. Basil, courgettes, rocket, carrots, pumpkins and broccoli should also be planted to ensure a good harvest. Dill is also well worth-while planting to give flavour to your dishes whilst being an absolute wildlife magnet. Dill attracts bees and butterflies with its lovely flowers and keeps caterpillars well fed with the leaves. Also, remember to utilising companion planting to protect your fruit and veg from pests. Nasturtiums work well for lots of different vegetables as an alternatives to pesticides.

3. Leave it wild!: If you love to mow your lawn, why not try out No Mow May to support your garden pollinators and see what beautiful flowers may flourish if left unchecked. If you can't commit to a whole month of mowing, try a small 'meadow' section of your garden, or even just mowing less frequently to provide more cover for animals and food for insects. If you feel tempted to remove weeds, do so by hand so you don't harm our precious wildlife with chemicals.

4. Being water smart: As we know, the warmer months can be difficult for our songbirds to navigate, with less available fresh water to drink. But, being water smart isn't just about providing for your wildlife, but setting your garden up for success. Have you thought about placing a water butt in your garden to collect rain water? By placing a water butt in the shade, you can collect water when it rains and use it to water your plants, keeping your bills down and plants happy! Watering your plants in the mornings or evenings is key, this helps to avoid the heat of the day when most water will be lost due to evaporation and ensure your plants can get the most out of your water.

5. Set up other wildlife for success: It's not just birds, bees and butterflies that need our help, though they often get the most press. Our friendly neighbourhood amphibians are also often at risk as the temperature increases. If you can, provide a small pond to welcome them into your garden, you can find information on container ponds on our website. Even just a wetter, shaded area in your garden would suffice, with piles of dead leaves and wet logs and soil to provide a haven from the summer heat. These kinds of wetter environments are also good for insects, which in turn helps our bird populations!

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The SBS Team

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If you are a scientist and would like to shine a light on your recent research covering songbirds here in the UK, then let us know! As a supporter of our charity, if you have ideas for blog posts you would like to see and topics you would like us to cover on #theSBSblog, please contact us at dawn-chorus@songbird-survival.org.uk or our Research and Engagement Manager at charlotte@songbird-survival.org.uk. 

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