Planting A Sun Garden to Attract Wild Birds

As previously discussed (refer to Planning A Garden Blog ) there are several fundamental issues that need to be addressed before planting a garden.  In quick review they are: the plant hardiness zone temperature, drainage, light exposure soil type and the type of garden you wish to have.  For the sake of this article I am going to plant a full sun garden with average soil and drainage.  It will be an informal garden with various heights,and colors.  The garden bed will be approximately 20 x 20 ft. and exposed on all four sides .  The soil is slightly on the dirt side so will need some remediation with manure, garden soil, peat or topsoil.  The plant hardiness zone is 6b and will be created to attract wild birds and wildlife.  I prepared the dirt with garden soil and manure turning and raking the soil until all the big clumps are out.  I've taken the winter weeds out also.  I am going to plant on one side towards the back a kousa dogwood and opposite that a weeping crabapple off setting the plants  Both trees grow well in full sun  and offer three season appeal.  The weeping crabapple gets profuse amounts of pinkish flowers attracting wild birds, butterflies and bees.  As the seasons change the tree yields small red fruit which provides food for wild birds such as mockingbirds, jays, robins, and cedar waxwings.  The leaves turn brilliant red in the autumn.  The kousa dogwood blossoms are white four petaled flowers with a 'wolf eye' in the center.  Nectar sipping wild birds and butterflies are attracted to the nectar rich flowers .  In the fall the tree bears plump red raspberry like fruit devoured by woodpeckers,thrashes and sparrows.  Before planting the tree make sure you read the nursery tag  for directions.  When planting trees and shrubs make sure the hole that's dug is twice the size of the root ball or container.  This allows the roots to grow without exerting extra energy to set roots.  Once the hole is dug place the tree in it to ensure the size is correct.  Next untie and cut  the burlap and remove it carefully.  Many planters or nursery personnel tell you the burlap can stay on , just untie it and it will disintegrate.   I have never had any success with the burlap disintegrating; thus the roots don't spread, they fail to thrive and tend to rot.  I strongly recommend burlap removal.  Back fill the hole adding whatever corrective soil medium the ground needs with water.  Take time to dislodge any air pockets working the soil to keep the roots and tree in place.  Tamp down the soil around the tree to secure it. Most of the time the tree's crown ( where the trunk meets the roots ) should be exposed.   Next plant the shrubs in the same manner placing them where they will not interfere with the trees.  Both trees grow 15 ft. tall and wide so stagger the bushes accordingly.  Working from the middle of the garden out to the periphery plant shrubs that will stay smaller or lower in height to give depth to the garden's look.  Hollies, dwarf conifers, blueberries or roses are all good choices offering berries, pine seeds or rose hips to attract wild birds.  These plants provide shelter and protection for our feathered friends too.  The next section should be lower in height and flower at a slightly different time so the garden is continually having color and interest.  Maybe some flowering quince that bears quince  which are good for human consumption or for the wildlife would and some nice color and interest due to its leggy habits.  This is a good place to add plants and flowers that thrive in the sun.  Echinacea (coneflowers) come in various colors and yield lots of seeds in the fall for goldfinch, buntings and many other songbirds.  Group plants in a bunch to give the flowers their due justice.  Garden phlox are liked by butterflies especially by swallowtails.  Hummingbirds will frequent phlox too.  Plants need the same attention as trees when planting however you may need to do one other thing before planting them.  Many plants or flowers in containers become root bound so it may be necessary to score or cut the root.  This allows the roots to spread .  Just make one or two cuts and tease the roots before setting the plant in the ground.   Near the perimeter plant low growing plants,Daisies, candy tuff, creeping phlox and lavender work well.  Butterflies and moths are always landing on these plants. Lavender smells so good when you pass by it.  Walk on me plants such as thyme or oregano emit nice scents when they are crushed and stepped on. These plants make great hiding spots for garden toads and ground birds.   Ornamental grasses can be used to give a different look and added texture to the garden.  My concern with many of the grasses is they spread and take over the garden.  To avoid this from happening plant the grasses in the pots containing their roots.  Wild birds (quail, buntings and bluebirds ) eat many of the seeds throughout the season.  The grass seeds will get eaten by other critters well into the winter.  Many insects besides butterflies and moths like these plants and flowers.  They help cross pollinate and pollinate the plants however they well become part of the food chain with swallows or purple martins munching them up,  After all the plants and flowers are in assess the garden.  If there are a few bare spots that need addressing use annual flowers ( cocks comb or salvia ), garden art, bird feeders or bird baths to make the garden more eye appealing.If you wish to keep the weeds at bay, place newspaper down in the unplanted spots and cover with mulch. Cardboard works well too.  Water the garden well  now and then probably 2-3 times a week till the plants start to grow.  For any birdbaths or bird feeders please see the website at www.WildBirdSeedMart.com.      .

Basic Thoughts For Planning A Garden

Springtime is a great time for planting a garden.  Yes the daffodils and hyacinths are up as are other early Spring flowers but the rule of thumb for planting a flower garden is to wait until Mother's Day.  Why?  In most areas the hard frost has past so it won't harm the plants.  If you are trying a flower garden for the first time or have been unsuccessful in the past here are a few tips before getting started which hopefully will save time and money. 
  First look at the area where the flower garden is going to be made.  Decide if this is going to be a garden just for the season or for many seasons or years.  This decision makes a difference in the plants needed for the garden.  If you can't decide do an experimental garden.  For this type of garden choose annual plants to give you an idea of how the flower bed will appear.  Annual plants do not come back year after year; they are a one shot plant but they do tend to re-seed themselves. These flowers tend to be cheaper by buying them in flats giving you many flowers to plant with.  A perennial garden is one where the flowers or plants come back every year.  These plants mature with age and need room for growing and spreading.  When planting a perennial garden most people tend to plant alot of plants in the space because it doesn't "look right" or "full enough".  Don't over plant, it will just lead to a waste of money time and frustration.  If the spaces bother you put a few annual flowers in between the perennial ones to give the garden a fuller look. 
  Secondly for at least a week observe how much light or sun the area gets.  If  the area gets 8 hours or more of sun  it is considered to be a full sun area.  Plants which need full sun tolerate the heat better than a part shade plant.  The full sun flower will not wilt or melt in the heat where as the shade plant will and will probably need more attention,such as watering much more to survive.  Part sun plants usually require 6-8 hours of sun while part shade plants need 4-6hours.  Full shade flowers need very little sun light.  These plants mainly have small or inconspicuous flowers but their leaves usually add texture or color to the garden.
  Thirdly check the zone you live in.  How do you do that?  This can be done by using the computer or looking on the back of a seed packet.  The back of the packet shows a map with colors on it.  Find the color of the area where you reside and look at the number which corresponds to it.  That is the zone number and tells you the average temperatures the plants can tolerate.  Plant flowers for the area's zone.  They will be more successful in growing.  Some plants will grow outside their zones if the zones are close such as zone 7 to zone 6.  These will be successful if there is a micro climate or sheltered ares in the garden.  It is best to stay in the plants hardiness zone. Once you get experience d or daring try these plants. 
  Next check the soil the garden has. Here's where the experts tell you to test the soil for it's pH.  I have never done this and have beautiful gardens.  Maybe I just got lucky.  What I believe is more important is the type of soil the plant is going into.  Does the water drain or does it sit there on top of the soil for a period of time.  Sand drains quickly where clay doesn't drain well at all.  This is how I believe plants get lost because their roots either dry up like a prune or rots because it doesn't like wet feet.  The soil may have to be remedied with additives such as manure, compost, topsoil, peat or mulch. 
  The next decision to be made is what type of garden do you want to achieve.  Do you want a formal looking garden or a wild untamed one, which wild life loves or a focal garden.   The choice of gardens will determine the look you need to achieve which will in turn determine the plants and flowers needed.  It will  dictate the amount of work, time and energy needed to get to that goal. 
  All gardens initially take time and energy.  They all need some attention to get started and mature.  You, the gardener, are the only one who knows how much time and work can be devoted to the project.  Start small.  The garden can evolve and can be added onto if need be.  To me the garden is therapeutic.  After working a stressful job it was nice to spend time in the garden mindlessly pulling weeds.  As seasons pass  the plants mature and there is less work to keep them looking good.  Now I pass that time enjoying the gardens with my friends and wild life.  Remember think big but go small at first.  Be successful in you endeavors and if you need accessories for the garden please visit the website www.WildBirdSeedMart.com

Attraction to Wild Birds-Spring Attention to Attracting a Mate

What is it about Spring that makes us desire it to come?  What's its real attraction?  Is it we're fed up with winter and its weather or are we tired of staying in the house and need a change?  When is Spring Spring?  If we go by the calender Spring arrived March 20-21st but to me Spring starts to arrive when the snowdrops and crocuses start to bloom.  The discovery of the first Spring flowers popping up in the garden attracts our attention and starts us thinking about  Spring.  The awareness of change, but wait,something is missing!  The main attraction hasn't arrived yet, that of the wild birds flying overhead migrating to the new destinations to breed.  Here in my area (Long Island,New York) early Spring starts with the arrival of the red-winged blackbirds coming to the feeders and the males flashing their intensely vibrant red wing patches  The Ides of March has us searching the skies for the familiar wild birds to arrive.  It's now past St.Patty's Day and still no symbols in the sky of Spring.  Where are they?  Then the familiar calls and cries and the attraction we've been waiting for has arrived, The Ospreys! Our eyes are attracted to the sky searching for their whereabouts.  Spring has now officially arrived here   The wild birds grab our attention. The male cardinals wear their vibrant red coats proudly hoping to attract a mate.  Yesterday for the first time I actually experienced seeing a male turkey puff himself up and display his tail feathers to impress the ladies in the flock.  He puffed himself up so much he looked twice his normal size and definitly looking to attract a mate.  It was really quite impressive.
  The attention to wild birds may be in their coloring and songs.  Many of the male wild birds have attractive and brilliant colors to attract a mate. For instance the Baltimore Oriole or scarlet tanagers males have beatiful lively oranges and red respectively to attract a mate. To hear a familiar song draws our attention to the treetops to scan for the wild bird who owns the song. The songs are usually sung by the male to attract a mate or for staking out his territory.  The songs can range from short and simple to complex and lengthy.  The female is searching for a mate who is a better singer. In the wild bird world the more complex the song the better the males chances because it shows maturity and strength to the female.  Thus leading to better brooding success.
  The real attraction to wild birds is observing their courtship rituals. Many wild birds use different behavior to attract a mate.  Sometimes they use a combo of behaviors to achieve this.  Besides color and songs some wild birds perform dance routines, head bobbing, wing flapping or bill  clicking to get the girls.  Many hawks and birds of prey sky dance.  Hawks put on a fabulous sky show to attract a mate.  They fly high in the sky and then dive to earth as if they were free falling.  Once attracting a female they mate in the air also while performing these maneuvers.  Western grebes neck bob and then simultaneously  dance and skip across the water.  Cranes and birds of paradise wing flap and dance on the ground to attract a mate.  The albatross bill clicks with its mate to asure pairing.  All of these routines  displayed by wild birds are fascinating to watch if you ever get to experience them.
  Wild birds will also display their colors and feathers to attract a mate in different ways .  For instance the peacock will spread his tail feathers displaying the circles of colors on the tail( the "eyes" so to speak). Who would not be attracted. The woodcock will strut his stuff and fan his tail shaking it and doing a little dance.  Frigate birds puff out their air sac so a potential mate can see his red sac displayed
and choose him.
  Other birds use preening as their ritual.  They preen each others feathers and lean into their mate to show there is no aggression towards them and to bond.  Sounds familiar .  Humans do the same thing .  Birds such as cardinals will feed their mates seed by placing it in her beak or mouth to show he is a good provider and would make a good "husbird" in rearing a brood.
  Nest building and nest selection can be viewed as a courtship behavior.  The male arrives in Spring earlier than the female and starts his architectural  expertise in nest building and placement.  When the females arrive they check out the nests and its placement. If they like the nest, the male has attracted his mate.  Many times the female will add to the nest or select to build a new nest with the Male's help.  This can be seen with ospreys and wrens.
  Now we can say Spring has arrived and renewal of life has begun again.  Some wild birds mate for life while others need to attract a mate. No matter what, all of them partake in their courtship rituals and setting up house   Maybe we humans should follow suit though many of us do Spring clean and get our homes in order.  Now is the time to attract wild birds to the yard and gardens by turning our attention to what these wild birds need.  Set out a bird bath with fresh water. Clean, repair or replace feeders and fill them with the food for the wild birds you wish to attract.  Provide nesting boxes or houses for the birds to start their housekeeping  and give them shelter and protection.   By providing these basic necessities attracting wild birds to the backyard will increase your odds. If you need any of these products please visit my website  www.WildBirdSeedMart.com.