Research has shown that in order to attract birds to your yard and garden, you need to create a multi-layered ground cover that includes plants, shrubs, trees and vines. Clover, woodruff and a variety of herbs, such as thyme are great ground cover. Chamomile and lady’s mantle are plants that attract insects and bugs that are eaten by juncos, towhees and wrens. Coneflowers and sunflowers attract a large variety of birds such as goldfinches and pine siskin, while chickadees love to hide in the inner sanctum of wisteria vines. Put up an arbor and plant grapevines. Robins will love flocking to this area. They also enjoy jostaberry bushes while nuthatches will gather in vibernum shrubs.
Natural Habitat
If you have a large property with lots of space, plant crabapple, cherry trees, oaks and hawthorns around the perimeter of your property. Fruit trees attract a variety of species and birds will flock to the area when fruits ripen. Gooseberry bushes, holly, currants, raspberries and blueberries will bring robins, thrush and waxwings to your yard. A nice effect is created when a hedge is formed using different varieties of shrubs and trees. Mountain ash, juniper and mulberries are also a food source for birds and provide shelter and branches for nesting. It’s not necessary to plant huge, towering trees to create an arboreal effect. Small trees such as dogwood, dwarf cherry, plum and peach tree, aspens and poplars add appeal to your yard and garden from a bird’s point of view, as well as being appealing to humans.
Be sure to include a variety of perennials in your garden. Use fences and trellis’ to house honeysuckle, wisteria, grapes, ivy, Virginia and trumpet creeper and other climbing plants to provide a place for birds to hide and nest. Ornamental grasses, delphinium, poppies, thistle, asters, liatris and goldenrod produce bird loving seeds. Add flowering annuals close to your house and out-buildings and if space allows, plant taller trees to create an upper canopy to your yard.
A wide diverse selection of plants are essential if you wish to attract birds to your backyard and garden, but they need to be planted in clusters, as that is how they grow in the wild. You will also need to provide shelter and water. Hang several birdfeeders in your yard and supply birdseed, Niger, suet and fruit. Like humans, birds enjoy a diet that consists of a variety of foods. To attract hummingbirds and orioles, make a liquid sugar solution and offer it in a hummingbird feeder.