A hedgehog-friendly garden - this is what it looks like!
They're small, spiky, and somehow really cute: hedgehogs. It's a joy to spot one, because hedgehogs are generally rather shy, and you rarely see one. But where exactly do hedgehogs like to hang out? What do they actually need to feel at home in your garden? We'll tell you how to make your garden hedgehog-friendly and why you absolutely should ;-)
How do I attract a hedgehog to my garden?
Hedgehogs thrive where human intervention in nature isn't too drastic. That means natural gardens. Hedges, shrubs, perennials, and unmown lawns are a paradise for hedgehogs. So if you prefer your garden to be a bit wilder, there's a good chance a hedgehog will pay you a visit. There's a lot of creeping and crawling going on here, and the hedgehog is guaranteed to find something suitable for its diet among the spiders, snails, and other insects. In addition to a natural design, it's also important for hedgehogs to have plenty of food and suitable places to retreat to. This is where they want to raise their young and hibernate in peace.
What is great for hedgehogs:
- Come in: If you offer hedgehogs an entrance to your garden, you can be sure they'll be happy to use it. Close-meshed fences or stone walls will prevent hedgehogs from getting into your garden. Regardless of your garden's border, create openings large enough for the hedgehogs to squeeze through (at least 10 x 10 cm).
- Hedgehogs love hedges! A garden border made of beautiful deciduous trees is the best option! Overall, it's better to choose native plants, as many more insects settle there than on exotic plants – and hedgehogs find more food.
- Create shelter: Rake the leaves into a pile in the fall. If you need all the leaves to cover your flowerbeds, you can also build a pile for your hedgehog out of stones. It's important that the stones are stacked on top of each other to create enough hollow spaces for the hedgehog to retreat into for hibernation.
- Home Sweet Home: A homemade hedgehog house is also welcome. But please do not disturb! Just because you're the landlord doesn't mean you can just walk in. You can find building instructions here , for example.
- A bountiful buffet: A little scattered food in the fall and fallen fruit are things that go down well. Not that your hedgehog will actually devour the fruit, but the larvae will be frolicking in these sweet treats, and they're a real treat for your hedgehog. This way, with suitable (!) food, you can ensure that your hedgehog can gather strength for its long hibernation. With our outdoor buffet or our small meal, you can be sure that your hedgehog has everything it needs.
- Thirst quencher: Before your hedgehog gets the idea to jump into your rain barrel, make it easy for him and provide him with a drinking trough. Important: Please keep it clean and refill the water regularly!
- Poison is poison! If you try to lure a hedgehog into your garden while simultaneously trying to keep rats away with poison, you'll also fail. Hedgehogs can also poison themselves quickly. The same applies to chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, if you chase away all insects with chemicals, your hedgehog won't be able to find enough food. So, it's better to use natural fertilizers and focus on variety!
- Baby... uhhh, hedgehog-proof? Hedgehogs are curious. That's why you should make your garden hedgehog-proof. Are there any shafts or wells your hedgehogs could fall into? Then please cover them up! If you have a garden pond, you should build an exit for the hedgehog.
- Goodbye to English lawns! Unmown lawns and open areas of soil offer your hedgehog a rich supply of worms and grubs.
A little fun fact about the prickly four-legged friend:
Did you know that your hedgehog loses 20 to 40 percent of its body weight during hibernation?! Imagine if it were the same for us humans over Christmas... ;-) To keep your hedgehog from giving up meat, you can do something nice for it in the fall. For example, leave some fallen fruit, as it will find many larvae in it, or treat it to a tasty " small meal " or our outdoor buffet .
Why should you make your garden hedgehog-friendly?
Hedgehogs are endangered! Urban development is robbing these animals (and that includes hedgehogs) of their habitat. Traffic is also killing more and more wild animals in rural areas. Added to this is the meticulous garden design of many urban gardeners... Whether due to laziness or for perceived aesthetic reasons, hedgehogs find neither food nor shelter in rockeries.
A hedgehog in the garden = reason to be happy!
Many gardeners worry about this unexpected visitor when they first spot it. Concerns like, "Will it eat my harvest?" are completely unfounded. Hedgehogs are absolute carnivores. Your vegetables or flowers are of no interest to hedgehogs. If you do happen to spot a hedgehog on your fallen fruit, it's probably just picking out the larvae living there. Still unsure? There's no reason! Spotting a hedgehog in your garden is a good reason to be happy! Here are two really good reasons why you should be happy about this visitor:
- Hedgehogs get rid of annoying pests: As already mentioned, hedgehogs love to eat small, annoying creatures. Plant-damaging insects, caterpillars, beetles, and other small creatures won't bother you for long in your garden if you have a hedgehog on hand. They don't shy away from snails and spiders either.
- Hedgehogs loosen your garden soil: When a hedgehog searches for food, it uses its pointed nose to automatically dig up your garden soil and loosen the earth. How convenient!
More information and lots of clever answers to many exciting questions about “hedgehogs” can be found at the hedgehog center .
