How to Design a 365-Day Bird Garden

by Susan Nelson Hopkins

Designing a bird garden that's active every day of the year just takes a bit more planning than the average garden.

Critical elements to a year-round bird garden...

This type of bird garden must provide food, water, and shelter for the entire year... as well as provide nesting and roosting sites during the summer.

Select plant species that provide shelter, and nesting or roosting sites, and food (such as berries, nuts, or seeds) during at least one season.

Most gardeners will agree that the following are among their favorite bird garden plants... including the experts at Susan's Gardens.

Trees for year-round bird gardens...

There are species for every yard size and nearly all growing zones... and fortunately for us, they're also beautiful during at least one season:

Firs... seeds in late fall, shelter year round

Spruces... insects attracted to flowers and foliage and bark in spring and summer; seeds in summer; shelter and nest sites in summer

Pines... seeds in fall and winter; shelter and nest sites year round

Oaks... insects attracted to branches; nuts in fall and winter

Maples... insects attracted to flowers and foliage in spring and summer; seeds in summer; shelter and nest sites in summer

Junipers... berries in winter; dense evergreen branches for nesting in summer and for shelter year round

Hawthorns... insects attracted to flowers and bark in spring and summer; berries in summer, fall, and winter; thorny branches for shelter and nest sites in spring, summer, and fall

Dogwoods... insects attracted to flowers and bark in spring and summer; berries in summer, fall, and winter

Mulberries... berries in summer; shelter and nest sites in summer

Serviceberries... insects attracted to flowers in spring; berries in late summer and fall (even winter)

Hackberries... berries in late summer and fall (even winter); shelter and nest sites in summer

Hollies... berries in fall, winter, and early spring; evergreen leaves for shelter year round

Crabapples & Apples... insects attracted to flowers and foliage and bark in spring and summer; fruit in summer, fall, winter, and early spring; nest sites in summer

Cherries... fruit in summer; nest sites in summer (taller varieties)

Shrubs and brambles for all-season bird gardens...

Shrubs can be planted individually, but grouping a variety of shrubs in several locations throughout the garden is the most effective design. Plant brambles in small thickets for best results.

Hollies... berries in fall, winter, and early spring; evergreen leaves for shelter year round

Dogwoods... insects attracted to flowers and bark in spring and summer; berries in summer, fall, and winter

Shrub Roses... hips in fall, winter, and early spring; thorny branches for shelter and nest sites in summer

Viburnums... berries in late summer, fall, winter, and early spring

Sumacs... fruit in fall, winter, and early spring

Blueberries... berries in summer

Elderberries... berries in summer

Flowers for year-round bird gardens...

Annual and perennial flower seeds provide food during summer, fall, and winter. While deadheading spent flowers encourages more flower production, it prevents seed production.

Birds will flock to these patches of seeded flower plants from late summer through the winter... as long as the supply lasts. For those of you who may not want dried up flower stalks quite so visible in your tidy gardens, try gathering up the seed stalks. Place them throughout your garden in tidy little bundles where birds can feast on them.

Grasses for all-season bird gardens...

Many native and non-native, ornamental grasses produce huge amounts of seed for fall, winter, and early spring.

If you have the room, plant plots of oats, wheat, or millet... if not, try planting one foot sections among your flowers to provide a unique architectural texture.

Try any of these grasses...

• Big bluestem
• Little bluestem
• Broomsedge bluestem
• Tufted hairgrass
• Sideoats grama grass
• June grass
• Switch grass
• Buffalo grass
• Indian grass
• Canada wild rye and slender wild rye
• Northern sea oats

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