Plants To Attract Birds

When the weather goes sour and we can’t get outdoors we look out our windows for any sign of life. It’s wonderful to see our bird friends flying from branch to branch, hopping about and pecking for food, giving us a glimmer of hope for the advent of spring; reminding us of the joy and elation of simply being outside.

 

If you want to encourage more birds to make your home theirs, there are many plants that you can add to create a happier habitat for our beaked buddies, and at the same time add beauty and value to your property. Consider evergreens such as pine, fir, and holly. Hardwood trees and shrubs also provide excellent nesting sites and roosting areas for the birds. Also, consider tall grasses that provide cover for ground nesting birds and a place to scurry to during poor weather.

 

In addition to providing nesting sites, trees and shrubs can also provide natural food for many birds. While birdfeeders attract the best variety of birds to your yard, you should also provide some natural food sources. Different trees and shrubs flower or produce fruit at different times. It is recommended that you plant a variety of plants with different flowering or fruiting times to provide food throughout the entire year.

 

Shrubs that flower and bear fruit in the summer include blackberries, raspberries, mulberries and blueberries. Migratory birds need trees and shrubs that bear in the fall such as dogwood, winterberry and mountain ash. Don’t forget to include some shrubs that keep their fruit throughout the entire winter, such as holly and sumac.

 

Hummingbirds, orioles and charming butterflies love trees and shrubs that produce nectar such as crabapples, azaleas and butterfly bushes. Last, but not least, don’t forget the trees that produce nuts, acorns and cones. You can plant oaks, pines, walnuts, and many others in your yard to add color, beauty and lots of birds for your viewing pleasure.