You can make a habitat in your yard, too | by annika haksar
Adele and I recently attended a class series in Natural Area Management at the University of Maryland, learning to better help you if you would like to convert some of your lawn into a natural habitat. There can be many reasons to want to do that - not having to mow large areas of grass being only one of them! Environmental stewardship of your land and streams, increased beauty and screening, and providing habitat for wildlife can be powerful reasons to create a natural habitat. Not to mention for your personal enjoyment. Take a hike, hang a hammock and watch and listen to the birds!
It may be tempting to think that this can be achieved by simply not mowing, but that will take a very long time. Also, if you have invasive species such as honeysuckle, porcelain berry, and English ivy, they are likely to take over and outcompete the more desirable native species.
Different wildlife populations rely on different stages of the forest development, and so it is important to introduce a soft buffer between your lawn and mature stands of trees. Areas with native grasses and other woody plants like blueberries, spirea and raspberries are important for nesting, rearing the young, and cover. Rabbits and young turkeys can often be seen here. Native shrubs and small trees, for example dogwoods, elderberry, witch hazel and viburnum, provide nest sites for birds and protection for many other species. Mature stands of native trees such as oaks, beech trees, and maples provide food for forest critters large and small.
Does it sound too expensive for you? Check out Forests for the Bay to see if there are programs that may be right for you. Do you want to learn more? The Woods in Your Backyard from the University of Maryland Extension Office is an excellent resource!