April 16, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 29 Some animals may benefit local gardens Planning and maintaining a garden requires a lot of effort, which can result in an aesthetically pleasing addition to the landscape. That hard work can also fall victim to nature when local wildlife find a garden too mouth-watering to resist. In an effort to rid a garden of unwanted pests, gardeners may unwittingly scare away animals and insects that might just protect the garden. Not every creature that scurries is out to get prized petunias or devour tomatoes. In fact, many can prove Healthy garden & soil signs Upon first glance, a garden may appear to be the picture of health. However, further examination may reveal that the garden is not all that it seems, and perhaps that healthy facade is artificially manufactured. Chemical fertilizers and an abundance of water may temporarily boost the appear- ance of a garden, but gardens need more than a quick fix to maintain long-term health. The following are a handful of indi- cators that a garden has established itself and is likely to maintain its health for years to come. Earthworms: The presence of earth- worms in the garden and surrounding soil indicates a healthy garden. Earthworms are essential to healthy plants because they aerate the soil by channeling through it. These channels enable rain to soak into the soil and air to reach roots. Earthworms, through their castings, also add important nutrients to soil. Dig a few inches into the garden. If you find an abundance of earth- worms, it is a good indication that all is well. Water infiltration: Take a glass of water and pour it onto the soil of the garden. If it takes five seconds or less for the soil to absorb the water, then that soil is probably doing well. However, soil that cannot soak up that water may be having problems, or there may be problems on the horizon. Those problems will likely manifest them- selves when the temperatures begin to rise. Foliage color and growth: A plant leaf can tell a lot about the health of a plant. Shriveled or pale leaves could be indicative of a problem. If the plant looks sickly, soil might need to be modified or the problem may lie inside the plant. Take a clipping of a poorly growing plant and place it in a glass of water. If the water becomes cloudy or milky, there may be a bacterial problem. If the water remains clear, the plant may have a virus. The presence of fuzz or hairs grow- ing on leaves could indicate the presence of a fungus. Plant residue: The presence of stubble or leftover plant particles from previous plant- ings helps the soil retain moisture and sup- press weeds. This material also can prevent erosion. It is good to have some residual plant matter in your soil. If the soil is too “clean,” it may not be as healthy as you think. Flowers: Certainly there are low-main- tenance plants that do not produce flow- ers, but relying only on these plants in your garden can prove troublesome over the long haul. Bees, birds, and butterflies are attracted to sweet, flowering plants. These animals and insects are essential to pollina- tion, and without them the garden cannot procreate. A thriving garden is one that has a mix of plants, including some flowering varieties that will keep birds, butterflies, and bees coming back again and again. Minimal weeds: If the only thing you are growing is weeds, there is a problem in the garden. Weeds tend to be more tolerant of poor soil conditions and can quickly take over and force out other plants. Planting ground cover and using mulch is a natural way to keep weeds at bay. You may need to do some manual work on your hands and knees and pull out weeds. The fewer the weeds, the more likely your plants will grow tall and full. beneficial to gardens. Bats: Bats have a bad reputation, as people unnecessarily fear bats because they believe them to be carriers of disease. But many bats feed off insects or fruits and will not harm a human. The average brown bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour, so it is easy to see why bats are good to have around. Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, but also harbor potentially dan- gerous diseases. Bats also may eat certain rodents, which can cut down on the number of animals burrowing in a yard. Frogs: Frogs and toads will prey on insects and make the local insect popula- tion more manageable. Toads eat mainly slugs, which feed on the leaves and fruits of many plants. Frogs and toads are attracted to water, so including a pond or another water feature in the garden will provide them with a habitat they like. Birds: While it is true that some birds can damage crops, many birds are content to feed on insects attracted to the garden, which helps to keep insect numbers in check. Chickadees, for example, will dine on aphid eggs, while larger birds may prey on mice or other rodents or simply scare them out of the garden. Jays and mocking- birds are known to be feisty and can even deter dogs and cats from entering a yard. Hummingbirds will sip on the nectar from flowers and help pollinate plants. Snakes: Snakes in a garden can be dis- concerting to some people, but snakes are ideal predators who feed on insects and rodents several times their size. Snakes are the right size and shape to invade the bur- rows of pest animals. Butterflies and bees: Butterflies and bees are responsible for pollinating the vast majority of plants. Avoid using pesticides that may diminish butterfly or bee popula- tions. A beehive right next to a garden may not be practical, but do not make attempts to destroy it. Consult with a professional beekeeper to see what can be done to move the beehive without destroying it. Many animals and insects can be detri- mental to the health of a garden. However, several animals are handy to have around and should be welcomed to the landscape.