Spring-clean your garden with care...

Kathryn Gilmour at Greenspace Garden Design says, "garden spring-clean is good thing to do... BUT ladybirds are still hibernating. Removing too much dead garden bits and old dropped leaves even in March can leave them with no cover. There is such a thing called 'garden hygiene' and yes it sounds a bit clinical, and yet in a small space, by keeping it orderly and clean you'll help to cut down on pests and diseases. A balance has to be struck between order and providing cover for beneficial hibernating bees and ladybirds". 

This is THE deluxe accommodation for ladybirds and bumble bees. There are several different designs available and the time to install them isn't actually now it is late summer or early autumn ideally.

But if you are doing an early spring clean and you happen to disturb ladybirds, as I did during February, then there are several make shift solutions that will protect them through the remaining cold weather and this is what I did:

Des-res #1 - The upturned flowerpot with dried leaf and grass interior. This is anchored with a stick so it can't blow away.

Des-res #2 - Old perennial growth secured with twine. Ladybirds venture out of the middle when warm enough.

Des -res #3 - Plastic container (courtesy of Riverside Tandoori) with exit hole cut, dried leaf interior and covered for shade (bark in this instance).

Ladybirds feed on aphids and are an asset in your garden - take care of them and enjoy their presence. They are supposed to be lucky too apparently and I reckon that I re-homed about 20, so it looks like I could be in for a luck filled year :)