It is a common myth that wildlife gardening takes a lot of time, money, and space. Believe it or not, you can create a wildlife sanctuary in an area the size of a small patio table.
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Check PriceThe Habitat Tripod is not a typical garden structure. This vertical ecosystem provides a greater habitat for wildlife than most gardens, and does so in only three square feet. Wildlife biologists call this \"stacking functions\". The design creates layers to accommodate different species at varying heights, so every inch of space is maximized.
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Wildlife Vertical Architecture
Imagine your tripod as a three-story apartment building for different animals. The top floor is for hummingbirds and flying insects, the middle floor is for small songbirds which need a nesting area, and for the ground floor, you can have foraging habitats for helpful insects and other creatures that live underground.
The design copies the organic outlines of the forests, the most bio-diverse habitats on Earth. Creating several layers within a small footprint, drives what ecologists call the 'edge effect'. This effect attracts organisms from different habitats.
Building the base of your wildlife tripod
Start by placing three sturdy poles, each between 6 – 8 feet tall, in a triangle formation with about 3 – 4 feet between each pole. Cedar or untreated wood is best; do not use pressure treated wood as it will leach toxins into the ground.
Make sure the poles go in the ground at least 18 inches. You will want to add some form of crossbar between the poles at the top. This will horizontal finish the look. Alternatively, you can let some climbing plants do the natural connector crossbar finish. The construction must be strong enough to endure vigorous climbing plants and resist the wind.
Selecting the Best Plants for Impact
It is important to choose plants that support various wildlife services across all seasons. For the vine layer, native honeysuckle supports long-tongued bees and moths, and in autumn, songbirds are fed by the shrub's berries. Also, native clematis will supply additional late season nectar and winter seed heads.
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For the native wildflower display from spring to fall, use wild ginger for early spring, followed by bergamot for mid-summer and closing with fall asters to aid migrating monarchs.
Every aspect of a shelter is important
In a basic flower arrangement, there is no intentional design of a shelter. The key difference with a tripod sanctuary is the construction of a shelter. To make thick nesting voids, weave some branches between the uprights, at approximately the center. To create shelter for beneficial insects that will overwinter, leave some stems uncut through the winter.
You can create small habitats within your main habitat by putting a small log or a small stone pile at the base for ground dwelling animals like toads and beneficial beetles.
Plan Your Planting to Offer Year Round Support to Wildlife
Organize your plant succession like a restaurant menu. Different flowers can be planted for each season from early spring to late fall. In early spring, you can include wild hyacinths, while coneflowers, milkweed, and asters are great choices for summer and fall respectively. Goldenrod champions can be incorporated for fall too.
This means that both the migrating species and the resident wildlife benefit the most. The migrating species find fuel in time for their migration, and the resident wildlife have food sources throughout the whole active season.
What Advanced Wildlife Services Offers for Your Tripod
Aside from food and lodging, your tripod sanctuary offers special services. Structures that are covered in vines serve as waypoint destinations for migratory flying insects. Among the helpful insects that are ground-dwelling and burrow are those that hibernate and then emerge from their microclimates to assist with pest control in gardens.
The tiny songbirds will utilize the crossbars as perches for singing and where they will set up territories. The dense climbing vegetation provides safe sites for nesting. These sites are safe from larger predators, but small ones can get to them.
Positive Impact Wildlife Maintenance
Compared to other gardens, tripod sanctuaries are not only different, but require a little more strategizing to manage. Each year, cut back about a third of the growth to to enhance winter wildlife habitats. Leave, the rest. Do not remove plants unless they are diseased, too aggressive, or may cause crowding of other plants to promote more biodiversity.
The more ‘messy’ a tripod appears, the greater the number of wildlife services it provides. The tangled stems become great hotels for insects and the dried seed heads are bird feeders in the winter.
If you're going to design and invest in a three-square-foot sanctuary, the results you will get will far surpass any results from a garden ten times that size. That's because your garden will be designed using principles that take into account the behavior of wildlife. Just wait and watch as your tiny sanctuary draws in all of the wildlife in your entire landscape!
