Learn why total tidiness in the garden hinders biodiversity. Use succession as a natural design element for a vibrant wildlife garden.
Those who view their garden as a closed system often overlook the value of change over time. Succession in a natural garden describes the process by which communities are constantly evolving. A classic lawn is an ecosystem artificially held at an early stage of succession by human intervention. By giving up continuous mowing and the consistent removal of plant debris, you allow nature to build more complex structures.
In July, the peak of the summer vegetation phase, this change is particularly visible. Where short-growing pioneer plants dominated in spring, tall-growing perennials now form the basis for specialist species like the common carder bee (Bombus pascurorum) or the common blue (Polyommatus icarus). These insects require the specific architecture of these plant stages for their larval development and foraging.
| Stage | Characteristic | Biodiversity relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Initial stage | Bare soil, pioneer plants | Habitat for ground-nesting wild bees such as the ivy bee (Colletes daviesanus) |
| Herbaceous stage | Dense stands of perennials | Food source for specialist butterflies such as the painted lady (Vanessa cardui) |
| Scrub stage | Woody growth, dense structure | Nesting site for birds such as the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) |
When you replace tidiness with the conscious retention of old wood or dead stems, you promote a spatial diversity that goes far beyond the standardised ornamental garden.
By viewing succession as a design element, you transform your garden from a static space into a self-organising habitat. This is the most effective way to sustainably support biodiversity right on your doorstep.
It is the natural chronological sequence of plant and animal communities in an area, in which the species composition changes constantly.
'Tidiness' prevents ecological successional stages. However, many insect species require precisely these complex, unkempt structures to develop.
Through partial mowing, avoiding soil cultivation, and leaving dead stems and deadwood in place, you create necessary habitats.
Main article: Natural garden in July: How to manage succession and pond ecology
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All species data comes from scientific sources (CC BY 4.0 / CC0). Attribution according to licence terms. Complete source overview →