Grow Plants for the Birds Feeding | Ponds | Plants | Houses

Every garden should have at least a few trees and shrubs.

 

Not only are they they the backbone of the garden they are also an important source of food and shelter for insects and birds.

 

Grow plants for the birds; plant a wide variety of trees and shrubs as different plant species create different structures for birds to shelter in, nest in and roost in. They also have different flowering and fruiting times to provide food for the birds all year round.

 

Particularly good are thorny species such as hawthorn, wild rose and bramble which provides a safe haven for birds to shelter and gives them more protection from predators. Honeysuckle and Ivy can be grown through these shrubs to quickly provide cover and a source of insects and fruit for house sparrows, starlings, spotted flycatchers and song thrushes. When established, they also make good nest sites.

 

 

Insects require a range of ages in the leaves and wood and these also provide food for birds. Native, woody plants attract a wider range and number of insects so if possible go for these, however, any tree or shrub will be beneficial to both insects and birds.

 

Prune established shrubs and trees over a period of a few years to create a range of ages and structures and if possible avoid cutting all of your trees and shrubs of the same species in the same year. Leave some old wood to decay to provide a good habitat for insects. Before cutting or pruning check for nesting material. The main breeding season is mid March to mid August but in mild winters it may go on later. Click here for more information on how to prune trees and shrubs.

 

Trees and shrubs provide the structure to a garden but no structure is complete without some flowers. Planting perennials, bi-annuals or annual plants will attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies and beetles which will eat some of the gardener's less welcome insects, such as aphids. All of these will be eaten by birds. Many plants also provide a source of seed for birds and if left over winter and the stems also provide refuges for hibernating or over wintering insects. For more information on plants to grow in your garden, click here.

 

 

Leave areas of bare earth at the edge of flower-beds to provide an area for weeds and insects, which will attract birds to feed there. Bare earth will also create a place for birds to dust bathe or collect mud for nest building.

Lawns provide shelter for many insects as well as seed, both of which are eaten by house sparrows and starlings. Most lawns are likely to have good numbers of earthworms which are loved by song thrushes. To improve your lawn for birds and wildlife by simply avoiding the use of weed killers and artificial fertilisers and try leaving the grass to grow a bit longer to provide extra shelter and egg-laying opportunities for insects. 

 

For more information on planting to attract birds, here is a selection of books which you may find of interest.

 

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