Skip to main content

Guide to Landscaping for Winter Birds

We showed you how to attract birds to your garden for the summer, but now we want to share with you how to care for your winter birds.

When winter is here and the days grow short it seems like many things are dead and everything seems so lifeless. I found that adding just the right equipment to your landscaping will attract winter friend into your yard. Watching these winter friends interact with each other will give you great pleasure. I have young children in my home and one summer we decided to make our yard more attractive for winter birds. These winter birds came into our lives and made our winter months something great.

If you would want to persuade the winter birds to make their homes near you and your family then you will need to take a good look at your landscaping and see what you have and what you will need to encourage the feathered friend to fly your way during the winter.

A few types of trees that winter birds find attractive are evergreens such as fir, pine and holly. Trees and shrubs supply superb roosting and nesting areas for birds. Ground birds may find tall grasses attractive such as ornamental grass this will provide a nesting place for such birds.

Many people supply winter birds bird seeds in bird feeders but having shrubs and trees that bear fruit would provide birds with natural food that many birds would prefer. Such trees and shrubs include holly and sumac. Birds that are migrating need trees and shrubs that bear fall fruit these types of trees and shrubs include dogwood, winterberry and mountain ash. Having trees and shrubs that bear fruit at different times throughout the year would be a great idea.

Place bird feeders in a place that you are able to watch them (if you would like) but be sure to place it within fifteen feet from a shrub or tree this gives the bird the ability to quickly fly for cover if need be. If you have no logical spot to place a bird feeder you can sprinkle the bird seeds on the ground just the same. Water should be available for the birds. A bird bath may be difficult to keep unfrozen so a heater is recommended. Add no more than 2 – 3 inches of water.

Clean out any bird houses that you have hanging around and the winter birds will move in. Blue birds like to seek shelter on windy winter nights and these nesting boxes are just right. Place your water and food close to the nesting boxes so they are visible.

I hope you find the winter birds a calming sight to watch as we did.

 

Easy Homemade Pine Cone Bird Feeder for Winter Birds

Supplies Needed:

  • Peanut Butter
  • Butter Knife
  • Bird Seed
  • Pine Cone
  • 2 Pipe cleaners
  • Wax paper

Instructions:

  1. Lay the wax paper out on your counter and cover in bird seed
  2. Use the butter knife to apply generous portions of peanut butter to the pine cone
  3. Roll the pine cone in the bird seed, making sure it is thoroughly covered
  4. Gently work the first pipe cleaner under the eaves of the pine cone and secure it to the center
  5. Attach the 2nd pipe cleaner to the first, using a knot as a simple twist might not be secure enough
  6. Tie the pipe cleaner on a branch outside a window and enjoy the birds

The post Guide to Landscaping for Winter Birds appeared first on Downtown Homestead.



from Downtown Homestead http://downtownhomestead.com/guide-landscaping-winter-birds/
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trees – Spring Planting Tips

Spring means that the garden centers are packed with people, and car trunks are packed with plants. Everybody has dirt on their knees, dirt under their nails, and is excited about gardening. To make certain that this excitement yields positive results, let’s discuss the basics in this article of spring planting tips. Installing new plants and having them grow successfully is not difficult, nor is it as complicated as some would have you think. Is it as easy as just digging a hole and setting the plant in? Yes, it certainly can be. I won’t get into bed preparation, as I have covered that in other articles. Let’s start with B&B plants. B&B is short for balled in burlap. Closely examine the ball on the plant that you have purchased. Did the diggers wrap twine around the ball to hold the plant secure? If they did, you should at least cut the twine and lay it in the bottom of the hole, or remove it completely. Pay close attention around the stem of the plant where it emerges from
Post a Comment
Read more

Soil Basics – Creating Fertile, Healthy Soil

Have you ever looked at the soil in your garden and considered it as anything more than dirt? If not you should because there is a lot more there than meets the eye. It performs many functions that you may not be aware of and having good quality soil in your garden is essential for your plants. In this article we will look at the functions of soil, what different types there are and finally some ways to make it healthier. Functions of Soil The most immediately apparent function of soil is a medium to support plant life. It provides support both physically and biologically. Physical support is provided by allowing the plant to grow its roots through the soil to hold itself in place. Biological support is provided by its ability to hold nutrients and water that the plant needs. It also supports other types of life as well. Microorganisms and insects live in the soil and they in turn aid plant life by helping to decay organic material and adding structure to the soil. Soil allows the gr
Post a Comment
Read more

What Changes Can I Make to My Garden to Be More Natural?

Gardening has changed a bit in recent years as people’s philosophy of gardening is starting to change to go back to more natural and organic methods. For those who have been gardening for a number of years, these new practices might be a bit hard to understand at first since the traditional ways of doing things is adding chemicals to the soil or plants to take care of problems and grow larger plants. Organic methods work a bit differently. Traditional methods use chemical fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil. Organic methods use compost . This is organic matter and carbon matter mixed together. This would be things like fruit peels, vegetables, grass, hay, leaves, and other types of waste mixed together. Over time it breaks down into rich soil that doesn’t need any fertilizer at all. A good compost is natural and doesn’t require extra chemicals. Pest control is a bit more difficult since you don’t want to use chemicals on your plants that end up killing everything. There are a fe
Post a Comment
Read more