Chemical-free zone
A great wildlife habitat means the animals there not only survive, but thrive. So once you've thought about how to meet their basic needs, you need to think about ways to garden in a sustainable, earth-friendly way. This means doing your best to avoid chemical pesticides, both insecticides and herbicides -- after all, unlike us, animals don't wash off their food before they eat it. And besides helping animals, abstaining from pesticides can boost the health of the soil and keep local waterways clean.

Some other earth-friendly practices:

• Choose natural fertilizers, such as compost and -- yes -- well-aged manure.

• Embrace mulch. Not only does it help your soil retain water, which means reduced watering time, but as it breaks down it too can help with soil fertilization.

• Plant native species, the next requirement for a wildlife-friendly backyard habitat.

Choose native plants
Sure, palm trees and mangoes in the Great White North might sound neat, but there are reasons why certain flora grows in some places and not in others. Native vegetation -- those species that have grown wild in your region for thousands of years -- generally thrives in its natural environment, requiring less fertilizer, water and pest-control measures. It also stabilizes the soil, diminishes erosion and does a better job at filtering storm water. And, of course, many local wildlife species depend on native vegetation to survive. When creating your backyard habitat, make sure to include trees, shrubs and perennials native to your area.

If you get stuck, remember, there are plenty of books, community organizations and websites to help answer your questions. And if you want to keep adding to your habitat, they also have plenty of project ideas -- how about building a toad abode, or a bird nesting box? -- to encourage your imagination to run wild.

Online resources
• The Canadian Wildlife Federation provides a simple guide for setting up a certified backyard habitat. Plus, they offer books for everyone from novices to experienced gardeners filled with projects and information on sustaining ecosystems.

• www.wildaboutgardening.org
In association with the CWF, this site offers one of the most comprehensive guides to identifying native vegetation in your planting zone. It also provides tons of information on what to plant to attract specific wildlife, from birds to bats.

• Evergreen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving green space in Canadian cities, offers a comprehensive guide to identifying native plants in your area. Depending on where you live, Evergreen can advise you on naturalizing your yard.

• The National Wildlife Federation, while American, has tons of applicable information on creating backyard habitats, with in-depth, easy-to-read information on everything from planting a tree and creating ponds to organic gardening.

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