Creating a welcoming place for wildlife in your home landscape can be a simple process when tackled one strategy at a time. While it is tempting to try to work on everything at once, starting small makes this rewarding process manageable. Begin with any of these strategies; when one is achieved, choose another step until your yard is a thriving wildlife waystation.
1. Learn what wildlife requirements may be missing from your environment
Check your home environment for the basic needs of wildlife:
- Food
- Water
- Cover
- Place to raise young
2. Choose one type of plant to add to the landscape
Adding Texas native plants will quickly draw butterflies, beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife to your home environment. Minimize time and effort by beginning with adding one plant selection at a time. When deciding what to plant, The Texas Native Plant Society provides a native plant list to assist with plant selection. Multi-level plantings are attractive to wildlife. Include some of each type in your home landscape.
- Ground cover
- Flowering plant
- Shrub
- Understory tree
- Canopy tree
The national organization, Monarch Watch, shares information about the butterflies you may attract by planting native butterfly host plants.
3. Adjust your garden cleanup tasks to benefit wildlife
- Leave the leaves. The Xerces Society’s initiative “Leave the Leaves” provides helpful information about the many wildlife and plant benefits of allowing fallen leaves to remain in the environment.
- Compost the leaves in your yard. Composting fallen leaves is a simple way to enhance the soil in your yard. Beginning on November 1, The Woodlands Township’s Environmental Services Department will be offering backyard composting classes on the first Saturday of November, December, January, February, and the second Saturday of March. High-quality home compost bins are available and may be purchased at a composting class or by phoning The Woodlands Township at 281-210-3800.
- Save dead plant stems. Stems of dead plants provide overwintering shelter for bees and other insects. For more information on how to prune plants to save the dead stems, follow North Carolina State University’s guide.
via North Carolina State University
4. Choose not to spray herbicides, pesticides, or insecticides
Creating a pesticide-free zone in your home landscape protects places, people and pets. Healthy alternatives to these chemicals are outlined by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the Xerces Society.
5. Add one element to enhance your own space
Now that you have enhanced your home landscape with birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and other wildlife, it’s time to enjoy the benefits of your time and effort.
What change would encourage you to spend more time in your own outdoor landscape? Consider these options to enjoy your new wildlife-friendly yard:
- Natural materials
- Fragrant blooming plants
- Curved spaces
- Water feature
- Sitting area to view your garden
What will you add to encourage spending more time in your new wildlife-friendly landscape?
Have you looked at Homegrown National’s Mosquito Bucket Challenge? A fun, pollinator-safe way to reduce mosquito fogging without harming biodiversity? With the Woodlands Township backing, this could become a big movement. The website is http://www.HNPark.org
Hi Sarah! Thank you for the suggestion. The Woodlands Township Mosquito Education Division does not recommend the mosquito bucket challenge. For more information about this mosquito myth and our recommended proven strategies, please see our recent blog: https://thewoodlandstownshipblog-environment.com/2025/06/30/dont-get-dunked-by-a-mosquito-myth/. If you have any further questions, you are welcome to contact our department to discuss further.