Rewilding May Be the Most Low-Key Gardening Trend Out There—This Is All It Takes

Sustainability and gardening can go hand in hand—and rewilding proves it. A garden trend focused on ecological restoration, this technique involves restoring an outdoor space to what it would look like as a natural ecosystem, promoting native plant growth and wildlife. Not only can you feel good about improving your piece of the planet, but these no-maintenance gardens also look full, are healthy, and flower year-round.

Here's what to know about rewilding your garden: how to do it, the pros and cons, what to know about the wildlife it attracts, and more.

How to Rewild Your Garden

A must for rewilding involves making the most of plants native to your area. Not only will they naturally thrive, but they also promote healthy outdoor environments and wildlife. Unlike invasive plants that take over your garden, native varieties work together so you won’t end up with a backyard that’s impossible to contain. 

Rewilding your space also means tossing out your pesticides or fertilizers—this helps reintroduce bugs (and pollinators!) back into your yard. Although not using fertilizer may seem counterintuitive, the key to rewilding is letting your garden form its very own ecosystem without your interference. 

If you’re concerned about bugs or animals wreaking havoc in your backyard, don’t be. Natural ecosystems experience damage due to wildlife all the time, but they can still thrive; native plants coexist peacefully with bugs and other animals without enduring any lasting negative impacts.

Use a mixture of plants that provides maximum coverage and diversity for your garden. Also referred to as "layering," you should incorporate ground covers, a variety of plants and flowers, shrubs that provide spaces for smaller wildlife, and larger native trees.

Each animal has specific needs for returning to your yard. For example, rabbits feel safest in bushes while moles prefer thick grass and ground covers. Incorporate birdhouses, feeders, nesting boxes, and even a pond if you have the means—the more features you add, the more wildlife you’ll attract, and the more your plants will flourish.

If you want a certain type of wildlife to visit, you can plant flowers that draw in bees and butterflies, use nectar feeders to invite hummingbirds, or use multiple wildlife attractors to see what naturally makes an appearance in your yard. 

You don't need a full-fledged garden to partake in rewilding. Use window boxes or your balcony to fill small containers with as many native plants and wildlife accommodations as you can, creating a mini ecosystem of your own—even without the backyard.

The best part of this technique: Once you’ve started the process, all you have to do is sit back and let your garden take care of itself. You won’t need to add fertilizer, worry about pests, or even grow new plants. If you really feel the need to maintain your native, wild yard, you can add compost or sprinkle in new seed varieties every once in a while. Mostly, you should just be grateful you no longer need to mow your lawn.