Garden and animals

Garden and animals brings together practical advice for people who grow plants and keep animals side by side, whether you have a few hens, rabbits, bees, or a small backyard menagerie. Discover how to design a garden that’s beautiful and productive while staying safe for curious paws, beaks, and hooves: choosing non-toxic plants, fencing and netting strategies, protecting seedlings, and creating shaded, sheltered areas with reliable water access. You’ll find seasonal tips for managing manure and bedding as valuable compost inputs, improving soil health without attracting pests, and using mulch, cover crops, and crop rotation to keep your plot thriving. This category also explores the benefits of an integrated garden ecosystem, from pollinator-friendly planting and bee forage to encouraging beneficial insects and natural pest control with ducks or chickens. Learn how to balance animal welfare with garden goals—clean housing, parasite control, enrichment, and biosecurity—while reducing odours and runoff. Whether you’re planning a small kitchen garden with pets, a homestead-style setup, or simply want wildlife-friendly solutions, you’ll get clear, hands-on guidance to make your garden and animals work together.

Forget the Fear Black Carpenter Bees Help Czech Gardens Thrive

A large black bee with violet-blue wings is often a violet carpenter bee, a valuable pollinator that’s usually calm around people. Learn how to recognise it, protect wooden structures sensibly, and choose aphid sprays that won’t harm pollinators.

5 min read