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Let’s talk a little bit about landscaping your yard for the birds. This topic is huge so today I will just give you a place to start. If you need more information, the internet is a great resource (where else can you find online car insurance quotes, construction advice and landscaping how-to’s all in one place!) for finding out more.

The first thing you need to do is take stock of your yard. Where is it shady, sunny, wet and dry? This will determine what plants you get and where they will be located. Next you need to make a plan. Make a map of your current yard and add in the plants that you would like to plant.

When you are deciding which plants you want, keep in mind that there are some specific groups that are important to birds. These groups are conifers, grasses and legumes, nectar-producing plants, summer-fruiting plants, fall-fruiting plants, winter-persistent plants and nut and acorn plants. If you are wanting to attract a specific bird, research what sorts of these plants are important to them.

You should consider native plants instead of exotics. Native plants will do the best job of attracting native birds. They will thrive the best and provide the appropriate food. Also, add plants that will provide food at different times of the year. This means you must plant variety!

Lastly, leave your dead trees and dead heads and recycle those branches! Dead trees provide insects for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees. They also provide nesting sites for cavity nesters. Use your fallen limbs to build a brush pile to provide winter shelter for smaller birds like sparrows. Leave the mess in your flower beds. Leaving the dead heads on coneflowers, daisies and sunflowers provides an important winter food source.

There is so much that can go into a bird friendly landscaped yard! If you start your plans now, you will have plenty of time to research and design before the spring planting season hits. And in a few year’s time, you will have an amazing yard for you and the birds to enjoy.