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With a little foresight in your design, you can draw birds to your gardens no matter what the season. Good garden designs generally include all the elements birds need: food, water, shelter, and a place to nest. So I took a little inventory of my gardens. I was surprised to find some of my favorite plant selections and property features
naturally attracted a variety of birds. So without really trying, I had a “bird haven” of sorts. If you are looking for some low maintenance ideas, check out some of the ones I have had great success with.
Food
One does not often think of a dead or hollow tree as a garden accent, but it truly can be if located beyond danger to property structures. The tree can offer insects as a food source to a variety of birds as well as shelter/perching opportunities. There is nothing quite like the song of a bird in the garden. Over the past few seasons we have had the pleasure of an owl visitor on the wooded perimeter of our property. Some evenings you even get a peek of this majestic creature perching on a dead tree. If you think a dead tree is a bit of a stretch as a garden accent, I understand some gardeners plant vines in and around their dead or hollowed tree, making it a natural arbor. Birds love some of our area’s favorite blossoming/fruit bearing trees. These include: dogwoods, crabapples, and serviceberries. Spruce trees produce cones with seeds that birds will feed upon. They also double as a sturdy shelter/nesting option. Many shrubs also produce fruit late in the season. Birds are especially fond of firethorn, sumac, cottoneaster, viburnum, dogwood shrub varieties, fothergilla and witch hazel. Two viburnums that have
great seasonal berry interest are the blueberry muffin and cranberry varieties.
Many flower varieties attract birds for their food. Gardeners are always thrilled to see hummingbirds feed upon
the nectar of various plants in their garden. Many bird attracting flowers double as a butterfly magnet. My
perennial favorites include: rudbeckia, cone flowers, daylilies, hibiscus, geranium, asters, gallardia and beebalm. Cones and rudbeckia do need deadheading to keep flowering throughout the season, but try leaving the heads on late in the season and the birds will enjoy feeding on the seeds. Why buy sunflower seeds prepackaged in a plastic bag to feed the birds, when you can grow your own tall beautiful sunflowers. Then watch the birds devour seeds
at the end of the season and even spread seeds for new plants next year.
Shelter
Evergreen trees and shrubs are a favorite shelter and nesting area for birds. Ever walk by a hedge of yews and
hear a chorus of birds hiding in there? The density of many evergreens attracts birds. A favorite is the spruce.
The dense dwarf Alberta and blue globe varieties are nice low maintenance shrubs that will fit nicely into a variety
of properties. Crab apples trees are a favorite spot for bird cover and nesting. Although not an option for many property owners, I have a small brush pile of sticks on the back border of my developed property. This provides birds with both predator and shelter elements. The diversity of your trees and shrubs will encourage visits from a diversity of birds. A variety of texture, density, height, shape, and canopy in your plant material will invite birds
to seek out and use the environment.
Water
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