Bring in the Birds, Creating a Bird-friendly Landscape

Add a little food, shelter and water for the birds and wait for the year round entertainment to begin.

I like to use my landscape as a self-filling bird feeder. Include nectar plants to attract hummingbirds. The shade loving fuchsia attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. The penstemons are great for hot dry areas and hosta flowers provide nectar for the hummingbirds and seeds for the juncos in shade gardens.

Use zinnia, cleome, coneflower & more to attract the seed eaters. And many of the winged visitors eat insects reducing pest problems in the garden.

Include a few evergreens, trees and shrubs for natural shelter. Those with small yards may want to team up with their neighbors to create an inviting environment with all the necessary ingredients.

Place an attractive birdbath, pond or fountain in your garden for added beauty and a source of water.

A bit more information: Add a few bird houses for additional shelter. Select right type of bird house with the appropriate opening for the birds you want to attract and house. You can also increase the diversity of winged visitors by adding a few feeders. I have been able to increase the number and variety of birds visiting my landscape by adding a thistle and safflower feeder. I avoid using sunflower seeds that seem to attract more squirrels to my yard than birds.

Tags

nesting feeders nectar hummingbirds fuchsia butterflies penstemon hosta zinnia cleome evergreens birds purple-coneflower husker-red-penstemon

Related

Audio

Grow Asparagus Fern (Asparagus densiflorus) Indoors

Audio

DIY Bird Seed Wreath to Keep or Give as Gifts

Audio

Growing Native New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

Audio

Northern (Myrica pennsylvanica) and Southern Bayberry (Morella cerifera)

Audio

Growing Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

Audio

Managing Leaves with Pollinators in Mind

Audio

Growing Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepsis

Audio

Perennials for Colorful Fall Foliage

Audio

Holiday Gifts from the Garden – Heirloom Seeds

Audio

Fall Blooming Pollinator Plant - Alma Potschke Aster

• « Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• ...
• 33
• 34
• Next »