Attracting Birds
Are there any trees or shrubs that produce berries that will attract birds to the landscape in the winter months? Also when is planting time for trees?
First evaluate the growing conditions and space available. Placing the right plant in the existing growing conditions will give you a healthy plant that is less maintenance for you and more productive for the birds. Then make sure the plants provide food for the birds without creating a mess for you. European Mountain ash, Korean mountain ash (Sorbus alnifolia), crabapples (look for disease resistance and those with good birds attracting fruit, like the cultivar Birdland), as well as Washington and Winter King hawthorn are trees that provide attractive fruit the birds like to eat. American cranberrybush viburnum and shrub roses hold their fruit in winter for the birds. And don't forget about perennials. Coneflower, black-eyed Susans, switchgrass (Panicum), and gayfeather (Liatris) are just a few perennials that will help attract birds to the winter landscape.
