What you can do to help the insects, arachnids & myriapoda in your garden in early spring.
We’re slowly emerging from winter, we can see the signs of spring and the days are getting longer. Weather patterns seem a little less predictable and more extreme at times, so we must be a bit more flexible in our approach to the garden and fields. Insects may be more affected, they tend to rely more on temperature cues, while plants are more likely to use daylight hours and light intensity. Insects that rely on a limited forage variety can become out of kilter with their environment and suffer. Bees are generalists and their adaptability help them to forage over a large area of variable forage, but we can still help them to thrive.
Water
With the amount of rain that we’ve had recently, it can be easy to forget how quickly it can dry out. Insects can’t really store water, so it needs to be readily available. They tend to rely on morning dew and guttation* and when it starts to heat up they’ll get it from open water sources. When leaving water out, make sure that they can get out and don’t drown. In a shallow bowl put stones, gravel, sand, twigs, moss or anything that floats which will enable insects to climb on to fly off. The water doesn’t have to be clean, they can’t smell pure water, but with some organic (algae) or mineral (chlorine or salt) matter they can.
Take care spraying
Be aware of how potent your spray is; systemic herbicides and insecticides can harm insects long after their intended use. It’s reasonable to try to exclude some plants and animals that are not wanted in our gardens but it’s kinder to not go for the nuclear option that kills everything
Do not disturb
Insects that have been hibernating in mulch, humus, and leaves are easily killed by spring cleaning in the garden. Leave over-wintered sites until mid-spring before tidying. Consider planning in the autumn which parts may be left more natural with organic debris and which will be more regularly cultivated. Leave piles of leaves, twigs or bark in secluded corners year round for refuges.
Considered Planting
Insects tend to have plenty of food from mid-spring through summer, but late winter and early spring can be challenging. Food can be sparse and cold or wet weather can interrupt their build up.
Look what’s flowering over the next month or so and plant those for next year; this will ensure a reliable source of food for insects when they are emerging from hibernation and preparing for the season. Some good insect-friendly plants that flower in September:
- Herbs- thyme, rosemary, bee balm
- Annuals & perennials – marigold, borage, nasturtium
- Shrubs & Climbers – lavender, clematis, honeysuckle, magnolia, cherry
- Natives – flax, puriri, hebe and manuka
- There are some of the above species that flower at this time of the year and some not; do your research or best to ask at your local garden store
Auckland Council Guide: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.
nz:80/environment/plants-animals/plant-for-your-ecosystem/Pages/plant-to-support-birds.aspx
*Guttation is when water droplets appear on the edges or tips of leaves, usually at night. During the day, plants lose moisture through transpiration, but at night, when transpiration slows, excess water drawn up from the roots—often carrying nutrients—escapes through special pores called hydathodes. This process is most common in younger plants growing in moist soil.
Ken Brown is President of Auckland Beekeepers Club and assistant chocolatier.
