During the colder weather you will be providing shelter and protection for the wild birds. Although you will be providing a natural source of food for them all through the year this will be particularly important during the colder months when food is scarce. The garden can be made to offer safety and security for the birds so that they visit often. Your garden may already be providing some food for the birds but you can increase this enormously by just planting a few more shrubs and plants that bear fruit, nuts or berries that the birds love.
How to Plan Your Bird Garden
Before you start you need to find out the wild birds that are present in your area. Look out at bird feeders locally or check up at the library or a local bird watching organisation. The types of birds in your area will help you decide what you are going to plant.Get your soil tested to ensure there are no deficiencies. If there are you must rectify this with fertilisers before you start to plant your garden. This will also help in choosing the plants and shrubs that will be suitable.
It is always best to use plants that are native to where you live as these will provide food suitable foe local wild birds. A plan can now be made to include buildings, trees, shrubs, and power lines. Go out into your yard and see where there are sunny spots or shady spots so you can decide what to plant in these areas. You should also look out for any plants native to the area that you wish to keep.
You will need to plan to include a source of fresh water for the birds. A pond would be ideal or at least plan to include a bird bath. Also decide how you can include a source of running water as this will be a big attraction for the birds. A fountain in the pond or a bird dripper or mister will provide this. Place the bird bath under overhanging trees if possible as these provide an escape route if predatory cats are about.
Plants to include should provide seed, nuts, berries or nectar throughout the year. You could include trees, shrubs, flowers, ornamental grasses and summer fruiting plants. Evergreen trees are perfect for the garden but plan on trees that are not too dense for the birds to fly through but are adequate for birds nests to be supported. In your plan you need some sunny spots for flowers and some shady spots too. If planting trees allow enough room for them to grow in your plan.
How To Plant Your Bird Garden
Once your plan is ready it's time to buy your plants and begin. It's always a good idea to involve everyone in the family and make a fun weekend out of the planting. Why not take photographs and document the planting and later the development of the garden and the wild birds that you attract? Involving the children will also be very educational and you can get them interested in wild life and nature and environmental concerns at the same time.How to Maintain Your Bird Garden
Planting your garden, of course, is not the end of the work! You are going to have to spend some time each week maintaining it. To make this easier and to help the new plants to thrive keep the area round their roots moist with a mulch or wood chips. This will also reduce the weed grothw and decrease the need to herbicides etc which, as well as insecticides, should be avoided in a bird garden. You do not want to decrease the insect population as they are a major source of food for the wild birds.If you are including a bird bath place this in a suitable place, preferably where you can see it from the house so that you can watch the birds bathing. Place your bird feeders away from your water source as birds need quiet when they are bathing or drinking.
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