Gardening Tips
Replace forsythia with native shrubs and hedges that not only brighten up spring but also contribute to biodiversity. Hedges provide nectar and pollen, as well as habitats for many species of wildlife.
Everyone recognizes forsythias in spring: they bloom bright yellow and are often associated with the joy of spring. Few people know, however, that forsythias are sterile and produce neither nectar nor pollen. They offer no lasting habitat for honeybees, wild bees, or birds, since there is absolutely nothing for them to find—so much for biodiversity!
If you love seeing everything in bloom in spring, the Cornelian cherry (see cover image) is a wonderful alternative. It blooms just as beautifully, if not more so, and provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, wild bees, and bumblebees, as well as fruit for birds. The Cornelian cherry creates new habitats and is far more valuable ecologically than forsythia. It can also be used to stabilize soil, as a landscape shrub, privacy screen, bird-friendly hedge, flowering hedge, source of wild fruit, and windbreak.
Another sustainable, flowering alternative to forsythias is a diverse hedge. Hedges provide a paradise of niches for wild bees and birds, and make a significant contribution to biodiversity.
Ecological balance: Hedges play an important role in maintaining ecological balance in the landscape and connecting different habitats. They support the exchange and spread of species, as well as the recolonization of habitats.
Beneficial wildlife: Hedges provide a home for many beneficial species, including kestrels, red-backed shrikes, hedgehogs, shrews, weasels, stone martens, common toads, lizards, ants, ground beetles, and many more. These animals use the hedge as a base for hunting in the adjoining farmland. Parasitic wasps also help control pests naturally by parasitizing them.
Wind protection: Hedges act as windbreaks, improve the local microclimate, and reduce the evaporation of water from the soil. This helps preserve the soil and reduce wind erosion.
Erosion control: Hedges protect steep banks, streambanks, and slopes, preventing soil from sliding or washing away. The soil beneath hedges absorbs water better than farmland, helping to regulate the water cycle.
Enhancing the landscape: Hedges beautify the landscape, divide it into varied spaces, add color and form, and enhance the appeal of recreational areas. They can also screen unattractive areas such as gravel pits, structures, and roads.
Learn more about caring for and planting hedges in the Information sheet from the Nature Conservation Office of the Canton of Zurich.