Helping Garden Wildlife Through Winter

Winter is one of the harder seasons for garden wildlife. Natural food becomes scarce, cold weakens smaller animals quickly, and many species rely on undisturbed shelter to see them through to spring rather than active foraging.

Hedgehogs typically hibernate through the coldest months, often in piles of leaves, log stacks, or purpose-built shelters tucked into a quiet corner. Anything resembling a bonfire pile should always be checked carefully before lighting, since it can look like an ideal hibernation spot to a hedgehog settling in for winter.

Different nematode species target different problems. Some are used against slugs, others against vine weevil grubs feeding on plant roots in containers and borders, and others against chafer grubs or leatherjackets damaging lawns. Because they are pest-specific, the right choice depends on identifying which pest is actually causing the damage.

Winter care is really about restraint. Amphibians often spend the coldest months dormant in mud at the pond bottom, so the pond is best left undisturbed rather than cleared out or heavily managed during this period. If the surface freezes over, gently melting a small area with warm water is a gentler approach than breaking the ice directly above where they may be sheltering.

Fresh water for drinking and bathing rounds out a decent set-up. Gardeners building out their feeding station for GardenWildlife the first time typically start with a good spread of bird feeders to cover the different food types birds look for.

For gardeners wanting an alternative to chemical sprays, a soil-applied option is worth considering as a first step, and a good starting point is a range of slug nematodes for gardens suited to the pest in question.