A wildscape is a landscape intentionally designed to provide habitat for wildlife—both large and small. Whether it’s a few pots on a balcony or an entire park, golf course, farm, or backyard, wildscaping creates a thriving ecosystem based on the natural relationships between plants, animals, soil, and climate. By integrating native species and sustainable landscaping techniques, wildscaping helps combat habitat fragmentation, ensuring that local wildlife has the resources it needs to survive. In return, you’ll experience the joy of watching biodiversity flourish right in your own backyard.
Every wildscape is unique, reflecting the vision of the gardener or landscaper who creates it. However, all successful wildscapes follow key principles:
- Diverse plant layers and shelter to support multiple species
- Natural food sources that provide sustenance year-round
- Water features for drinking, bathing, and aquatic life
- Invasive species control to maintain a balanced ecosystem
- Resource conservation—minimizing water use, energy consumption, and chemicals
Beyond native plantings, habitat structures can enhance wildlife support by providing targeted shelter and breeding grounds. Adding water features attracts amphibians and insects, while decayed logs and stumps create homes for reptiles and small mammals. Rock walls offer refuge for native reptiles, and wildlife trees and birdhouses provide essential nesting sites for birds and bats. Oakstead offers habitat assessments to help you determine the most effective wildscaping strategies for your land. Ask us about native bee sanctuaries and custom birdhouses—let’s transform your yard into an ecological paradise!
