Planting Plants that Attract Birds
Gardening in an Environmentally Friendly Way - Chemicals and toxins in our environment hurt wildlife and us.
Landscaping for birds begins with trees and thickets, but garden flowers will attract birds, too.
It is best to include flowers that produce the seeds that are prized by birds, such as the sunflowers, as birds love sunflower seeds.
- If possible, plant your sunflowers (in full sun) where you can easily see them, so that you can watch the birds dining on them.
- You can save sunflower seed for the winter by putting each seed head into a grocery back and tying around the stem. Make sure to leave some of the flower heads uncovered so that the hungry birds will not be driven to peck through the paper. When the seed heads have dried, cut them from the stems and store them in a metal container so that rodents won't get into them. In winter, you can wire the seed head to a tree or a feeder for the chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches and blue jays to enjoy.
Other garden flowers treasured by birds love include:
- cosmos, snapdragon, zinnia, cockscomb, aster and larkspur.
- After these flowers have finished blooming, don't cut off their heads. Let them dry where they stand. In winter your garden will bloom again with the gold of finches and the red of cardinals.
Plant Native Flowers:
You can create a heaven for birds by planting native wildflowers. This can be -- depending on where you live -- purple and yellow coneflowers, monarda - also know as bee balm, larkspur, black-eyed susan, and maximilian sunflowers.
Please remember that native flowers will attract native birds. Native flowers are also more resilient to diseases and are usually easier to care for as they have adapted to your climate and soil. Your local nursery should be able to recommend garden flowers that are native to your area.
Eco-Gardening: Click here for Tips for Easy-care, Nature-friendly Gardening
Plants that birds feed on:
- Zinnias ... Sunflowers ... Purple coneflowers ... Snapdragons ... Portulaca ... Cosmos ... Cornflower ... Coreopsis ... Blazing star ... White prairie clover ... Compass plant ... Prairie dock ... Big and little bluestems ... Sideoats grama ... Switch grass ... Prairie dropseed ... Downy serviceberry ... Hackberry ... Dogwood ... Juniper ... Elderberry ... Hawthorn
Hummingbirds feed on:
- Columbine ... Jewelweed ... Native phlox ... Native honeysuckle ... Cardinal flower ... Beebalm (Monarda) ... Cannas ... Coral Bells ... Cardinal flower ... Hollyhock ... Begonia ... Bouganvillea ... Dahlia ... Lantana ... Impatients ... Hibiscus ... Glads ... Foxglove ... Fuchsia ... Gaillardia (Indian Blanket)
Basically any plants that contain berries and shelter for them to hide in are good candidates for the garden.
Some berry rich plants are:
- viburnums
- skimmia (need male and female to get berries)
- hollies (need also male and female for berries)
- rugosa roses - especially important during the winter as the develop healthy rose hips that they can eat during the cold season
On the plants that need male and female, make sure the plants are labeled as such in the nursery and you usually need one male for 5-6 females. Of course, if they are unlabeled, the ones with the berries ARE the females. Only when an unlabeled holly is flowering can you determine, if its male or female. If it has four small stalks in the center of the flower its a male. If it has the four small stalks and a large central stalk in the middle (the pistil or ovary) that then is the female.
Shelter
- Can be provided by planting Evergreens, in addition to providing nesting boxes / bird houses.
Don't Forget ...
Water
- There should always be a water supply, as well such as a birdbath (heater in the birdbath for the winter, of course). Fresh CLEAN water should be provided daily.
These things ensure birds come to your garden and stay there.
At this website you can find out what plants are right for your area.
- Attracting Butterflies ... Gardening to Attract Birds ... Attracting Certain Birds to Your Garden .... Attracting Hummingbirds ... Attracting Squirrels
Gardening
- Gardening in an Environmentally Friendly Way - Chemicals and toxins in our environment hurt wildlife and us. This step is an important in having your garden certified as a Wildlife Habitat ... Forest Gardens - The Garden of the Future? ... Backyard Habitat
Build Your Own Pond - Step-by-Step Instructions
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!
