As our population expands and more of the wild areas become urbanized, think about your landscape and the wildlife it has displaced. As their habitat shrinks, so does available territory that will sustain them. Birds and mammals must adapt to living in our world.

While you sit in front of the fireplace and dream through seed and plant catalogs, give some thought to how you can sustain a wild population. Look for native plants or plants that have adapted to your area, plants that supply seeds, insects, and nectar for our native animals. Adapted or adaptable plants need less coddling in the garden.

Use compost, either homemade or purchased, when you put your flowers and shrubs to bed this winter. Spread it two or three inches deep throughout your garden beds before you add your winter mulch. Improved soil is an added benefit, as well as a kick-start to next season’s growth.

Good, healthy soil feeds plants without chemicals. A bonus is less irrigation when you improve the soil’s water retention capacity.

A grassy lawn is the favorite hunting grounds of robins. Thin top dressings with compost, rather than chemical fertilizer, will create healthy soil and a healthy earthworm population. Healthy earthworms equal healthy robins.

If you have a large property, consider leaving dead trees standing for woodpeckers and other birds that need these snag trees. Dead trees supply them with insects as well as places to drill out homes.

If the tree would threaten buildings or people if it falls, then you cannot leave it up. That’s why it is important for the lucky few who have the room to let the tree decay in its own time.

Many folks put out suet and birdfeeders and enjoy watching the antics of the visitors to the feeder. I’m one of them. Even more important than food is water, both for bathing and drinking.

Birds need to keep their feathers in good shape. Many take daily baths. Keep birdbaths clean and free of any cleanup residue. It is best to use a brush, gloves, and elbow grease to keep them clean. Soap and detergents can be very detrimental to birds' health. Don't use them in birdbaths. Detergents and soap will remove the natural oils birds need on their feathers.

If you are in one of the areas that restricts water, look into the possibility of reusing gray water outdoors for watering plants (but not for bird baths.) Check with local officials. This is not legal in some areas. For guidelines, The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, at this site: http://www.sahra.arizona.edu/programs/water_cons/tips/re-use/gray.htm gives the what, why, and how of gray water use.

You can improve the water holding ability of your garden just by moving soil around. Notice where the rainfall collects and runs from your yard into the storm sewer or ditch. Build a gentle swale to slow down the water’s run. This gives it time to soak into your ground. On the other hand, you can plug up the runoff by planting a blockade of grass and shrubs. Diversion is an excellent way to capture water runoff.

We can all make a difference by improving our soil and keeping water in the garden instead of in the sewer system.

---Posted by Anne K Moore, November 11, 2007---