Designing an attractive backyard habitat
The easiest way
Unless you're a landscape architect, you might be most satisfied with a professionally-designed yard ... provided you can find a landscape designer who is committed to designing for habitat and the health of the earth. At this time, these people are few and far between, but as the demand grows, the number of knowledgeable people who are able to provide this service will grow as well. In fact, I suspect there are a number of professional landscapers who know that natural landscaping is the best choice, but who haven't yet been able to find customers who want this different look and purpose for their yard.
The cheapest easy way
If money is tight, there is one such local landscaper who will design a plan for your entire yard and guide you in your implementation of the plan. With this plan in hand, you can be sure when you're all done, it will all "hang together" and be attractive as well as habitat-friendly. Since having a intelligent plan will help you avoid many costly mistakes, this might well be the cheapest way to proceed.
My way
If I had known before what I know now, I would have chosen the guided plan described above. At this point, though, it's too late to go with the guided plan described above so I've have to be satisfied with what I've created (and recreated as I corrected mistakes.). I'm not a designer, but all in all, the results aren't too bad.
I've followed a few basic principles as I've planted my yard:
I've tried to create something of a “bowl” effect with the center of the yard being the lowest point (i.e. the paths and sitting areas without plants) and then low plants, medium tall plants and so on going upward from the center all around. Even with this general bowl effect, though, I have some variation in height at each layer so it doesn't change in lockstep.
I've tried to "anchor" the garden at the edges working out from the fence or wall and the like rather than have a garden bed plunked down in the middle of nowhere.
I've tried to have nice curvilinear borders. In fact, I give a lot of thought and effort to creating what to me anyway looks like just the right curve looking at it from both directions - neither too abrupt a curve nor too slight a curve and definitely not symmetrical curves.
I have tried to create a three-dimensional look using tall trees, understory bushes, perennials, annuals, vines on fences and so on. This makes sense not only aesthetically, but also environmentally.
I try to plant in irregular drifts - neither too few nor too many of one kind of plant. Enough so that each type of plant is noticeable, but not so many that there's no room left for plant diversity.
I try to use odd number of plants although once you use beyond 5-7 plants, this seems to become less important.
I plant things fairly close together, generally much closer than recommended. This is probably more of a gardening than a design concern and may not even be the recommended way to do things - it's just the way I like it. I like the look of abundance. With good soil, it seems to work well. It also is good for attracting beneficial insects, and also for creating a self-mulching effect.
ALSO, you may not want to “design” your whole yard. Consider “tithing” your yard – leaving 1/10 of your yard as natural and see what grows there (but perhaps removing any non-native or invasive plants.) This might turn out to be the most habitat-friendly part of your yard. Depending on the proximity of your neighbors and the general characteristics of your neighborhood, you may or may not be able to do this.
Part of the design process is a journey of redefining what’s beautiful, of seeing the world a different way.
Being neighborly
As Mark Twain said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” Very true!
At the same time, though, you need to be a good neighbor and consider the design sensibilities of your neighborhood. Move just a step beyond where people are aesthetically. Here are some things that can help:
Have nice curving borders and keep them neat. A more "wild" looking garden confined to a neatly-bordered bed is much more acceptable to others.
Start small and let it evolve – this gives people a chance to get used to a new look.
Make people part of the landscape – include benches, paths, statuary and so on.
Make the most public part the most garden-like by putting your most flowery habitat plants there.
Advertise with your Certified Wildlife Habitat and/or Wild Ones signs so that people know that "there's a method to your madness!"
Talk to people and invite them for a garden tour. When they understand why you're doing what you're doing they're more likely to be supportive ... and may even start habitat gardening themselves!
