When you think about the perfect garden you may typically think of a lush green area, intensely managed and devoid of any weeds. Whilst this may be ideal for many humans, but for the wildlife relying on our gardens and green spaces this can be a disaster! Common plants that we think of as weeds are often vital food sources and habitats for beneficial invertebrates, birds and other wildlife.
Stinging nettles
Stinging nettles are a common enemy for most gardeners, with painful stings and their vicious nature, outcompeting many other more favourable plants. However, these plants provide food for over 100 species of invertebrates according to the Biological Recording Centre including many species of butterflies and moths. Stinging nettles also provide food significant food for seed-eating birds in the autumn.
But, they aren’t only beneficial to insects, historically Stinging nettles have also been incredibly useful for humans! They have been used from food and herbal remedies to fibres and dyes. They can also be used to make a homemade nitrogen-rich fertiliser to feed the rest of your garden!
Dandelions
Whilst many of us may love the look of a pristine grass lawn, this can be difficult to both achieve and maintain. Dandelions are a common culprit for invading our lawns, and spread quickly. They have beautiful yellow flowers and don’t outcompete the grass, so why do we treat them as weeds?
They have a huge value to wildlife due to their nectar and pollen rich flowers. These plants also have an incredibly long flowering period from May to October, providing food for pollinators for most of spring and all of summer.
Dandelions also have edible flowers, leaves and roots, traditionally used in herbal remedies to treat inflammation, and increase liver health.
Bindweed
Bindweed is infamous amongst gardeners as incredibly aggressive and difficult to get rid of. But should we be trying to completely eradicate it or simply control its spread?
Bindweed is a UK native wildflower, therefore it is a food source and habitat for many invertebrates. Both the foliage and the flowers can act as food for beetles and pollinators respectively, all of which are beneficial to have in the garden, boosting the biodiversity.
Cow parsley
Cow parsley is a native UK plant that typically grows at the roadside, next to hedgerows and at the borders of woodlands.
Cow parsley is a native wildflower, that multiplies quickly and can quickly take over an area due to it producing a lot of seed, thus earning its reputation as a weed. However its flowers provide an early source of nectar in April, for hoverflies, beetles and other insects.
Cow parsley can be a great wildlife corner plant however to stop it from spreading to other areas in your garden it is a good idea to deadhead flowers at the end of the growing season.
