Create a backyard border for birds

Ever wonder why all the birds are partying at the neighbor’s instead of your place? By offering plenty of food and shelter all season long, you not only attract birds but also encourage them to think, "This could be a perfect spot to nest!"

Siting a bird garden

This garden design incorporates a mix of native North American plant species, their cultivars and other plants that birds love. If your property is near a natural area, such as a woodland with large, mature trees, this garden would serve as an excellent transition between the woodland and lawn. But wherever you grow this garden, birds will enjoy the seeds, berries, insects and shelter that these plants offer. For optimal bird-watching, site the bed where you can easily view it from your window, especially in fall, when the garden bursts into autumn color. Avoid planting this garden next to your patio or driveway so birds don’t make a mess there.

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Create an ideal environment for birds in your landscape

Like shelter plants, birdhouses offer cozy nooks for nesting and provide safe spots away from predators and inclement weather. Supplemental bird feeders provide constant, reliable food, which is especially vital when other natural food sources are scarce. This mix of plants features flowers blooming at different times, stunning fall colors and even some winter charm. So, while it’s crafted with the birds in mind, it’s also a treat for you to enjoy every season!

Attract specific birds to your garden

Different bird species have specific needs for their homes, and not all birdhouses suit every bird. The bird box in this plan is designed for the northern flicker, a species that is experiencing population decline but is commonly found across North America in towns, woodlands and grasslands. Mount the birdhouse on a post 6 to 12 feet high, at the back of a border with a clear flight path. Fill the birdhouse with white pine wood chips, and clean and refresh with new chips each year either in fall after breeding season ends or early spring before it begins.

Add a nesting basket

Offer a pre-built nesting site in a tree by making a basket with one 12x12-inch piece of hardware cloth and placing it 6 to 10 feet high on a forked branch with branches hanging overhead. Use wire to secure the nesting basket to the tree. This is great for birds that like to nest out in the open, such as finches, mourning doves and robins. Some species will even return year after year to the same location to breed and raise their young. Don’t put more than one nesting basket in a tree.

Feed birds throughout the year

The elderberry, crabapple and beautybush in this design offer fruit in fall and winter, serving as crucial food sources for migrating birds. All the perennials in this plan provide seeds when the flowers fade. And nectar-rich Joe-Pye weed, threadleaf coreopsis, blazing star and yarrow attract hummingbirds during the growing season.

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Seasonal bird garden checklist

Plant this garden in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil. Leave the perennials and grasses standing through winter for visual interest and to feed the birds.

Winter garden to-do

In late winter, while plants are still dormant, prune the crabapple by removing dead, diseased or crossing branches. Similarly, prune elderberry by taking off any unwanted root suckers and any dead or diseased branches to encourage better flower and fruit production. Even though the roots are hardy, the beautyberry’s stems often suffer winter dieback in zones 5 and 6. Once new buds emerge, cut back the dead stems.

Early spring chores

In early spring, cut back the perennials and grasses to prepare plants for new growth and divide those that have become overcrowded. Deadhead coreopsis in midsummer using hedge shears or scissors to cut off all the spent flowers at once for a second flush in fall. Yarrow is known to spread somewhat aggressively through self-seeding and rhizomes. To control it, divide plants in early spring when new growth emerges or in late fall after flowers fade. Toss extras in the compost. Or cut back spent blooms before they seed, but birds, such as goldfinches, juncos and towhees, will likely eat them off the plant and ground before they can germinate in spring.

Late fall cleanup

Once a year, in late fall or early winter, remove old nests, which can harbor parasites and pathogens, from birdhouses. For both birdhouses and feeders, use a solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach, scrub thoroughly, rinse well and let birdhouses and feeders dry completely before refilling feeders with fresh seed or putting birdhouses back in place.

Keep birdfeeders clean to prevent disease

Clean birdfeeders at least once every two weeks. During times of heavy use or rain, clean them more frequently to prevent mold and bacteria growth, which can cause diseases among bird populations.  

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Bird-friendly garden planting plan

Meet the plants in this backyard bird border

Check out the lettered plan above and see the corresponding plant information in the slideshow below to find out more about the beautiful plants that make up this bird-friendly garden. Like this garden design? See our full collection of wildlife plans.

Fall into winter with multiseason plants

The plants in this simple combination along an entryway path with a low wall make for a welcoming sight year-round, especially in late fall and winter. With its low profile and long, cascading branches, Hesse cotoneaster is perfect draping over a retaining wall, or just scrambling along as a groundcover under the canopy of larger shrubs or trees. Pink spring flowers open along the stem beside glossy green leaves, followed by red berries that persist into winter, providing an edible option for wildlife when food is scarce. Tatarian dogwood and coneflower add extra fall and winter interest to this planting.

Growing conditions for this fall and winter border

Plants in this entry border prefer full sun, but will also thrive in part shade. Give them plenty of water after planting to get them established, but after the second year they will tolerate dry weather with ease.

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Plant care tips

• Hesse cotoneaster's leaves are evergreen in warmer zones, but where winter temps often dip below freezing, foliage darkens, eventually drying and falling off by late winter. In early spring, rake out fallen leaves and prune any dead stems.
  

• Easy-to-grow Salsa Red coneflower’s striking red summer flowers give way to sturdy seedheads that birds will flock to all winter, so there is no need to deadhead spent blooms unless you would like a tidier look.
  

• Falling dogwood leaves reveal red stems that brighten by midwinter. Cut back 1⁄3 of the older stems to the ground each year to get better color on younger stems.
  

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Meet the plants in this multiseason garden bed

A) Hesse cotoneasterCotoneaster hessei
Shrub; pink flowers in late spring followed by red berries that persist into winter; full sun to part shade; 12 to 18 in. tall, 36 to 60 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 7

B) Tatarian dogwoodCornus alba Ivory Halo
Shrub; white flower clusters in late spring to early summer followed by white berries; full sun to part shade; 4 to 6 ft. tall and wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7

C) Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Sombrero^® Salsa Red
Perennial; bright red flowers in late spring through summer; full sun; 24 to 26 in. tall, 16 to 22 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9

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You don’t need a big garden to lure in hummingbirds — even a relatively small garden like this one will bring them in. They’re attracted to bright-colored flowers, so this garden includes lots, both in the ground and even in a hanging basket. The tree in the front yard is great for offering this sunny garden some cooling shade during the hottest part of the day. But the yard still gets plenty of sun to let these plants grow and bloom vigorously. Check out the details below to attract hummingbirds to your garden.

Include a variety of plants to attract more hummingbirds each season

This design includes nectar-rich flowers with different bloom times for a constant food supply. Starting in spring with the blooms of trumpet honeysuckle and pineleaf penstemon, to summer flowers of daylily, bee balm and red hot poker, right up until the last flowers of summersweet, there’s plenty for the birds to eat.

Remember to stay clear of insecticides and herbicides. You don’t want to poison your visitors as they eat treated insects. And systemic herbicides absorbed by the plant can also be present in the nectar the little birds feed on.

Plant large masses of flowers

A strong splash of color created by five to 10 plants together is much more visible to passing hummingbirds and improves the odds of attracting them to your garden. Chances are, once one visits, it’s more likely to return the following year — adding even more color to your garden!

Setup a view

A birdbath with a dripper in front of a window offers lots of entertainment. When pruning shrubs or trees, leave a few small bare branches or twigs on the plant. These are favorite hummingbird perches (and give you a clear view of the little birds).

Consider feeder placement

Two hummingbird feeders hang a few feet in front of the windows, where you can enjoy watching the birds. Position them with space between — these are 7 ft. apart — and higher than 6 ft. off the ground (to protect them from hungry cats). Place the posts close to the path to make cleaning and filling convenient. Use a mixture of one part white sugar to four parts water. Don’t use honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners, which aren’t good for the birds.

In northern climes leave feeders out two weeks after you’ve seen the last hummingbird in fall to feed any late-comers. Then clean and store them inside for the winter. In the South, leave feeders out all year.

Maintenance tips

In addition to having beautiful blooms, these plants are very easy care. Check out the tips below to keep this garden looking great.

• The main task is deadheading the faded blooms of the red hot poker, starflower and penstemon.
• And though it won’t promote more flowering, snap off the faded daylily blooms to tidy up the plant.
• Once the bee balm’s flowering finishes, if you spot powdery mildew, cut back the plant to about 6 inches tall or to the fresh foliage.
• ‘Ruby Spice’ summersweet’s casual-looking habit and fragrant blooms, like the other plants in this garden, will provide a lot of flower power without needing a lot of man (or woman) power.
• The nectar of butterfly weed attracts butterflies, as well as hummingbirds. Remove the seed pods if you don’t want it to reseed.

No one would ever say a butterfly garden is boring. Besides bright color, another thing you’ll notice about all the flowers below is the size. Large flowers, especially those with flat shapes, are the easiest for butterflies to land and feed on. Fragrance helps bring the butterflies in, as well. Plant flowers in groups of three to five (or more) for the most impact.

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Low-maintenance beauty

In the slideshow, we’ll take a look at five butterfly-friendly plants. In the illustration below, we’ll show you how to mix some of them together to create a gorgeous butterfly garden. But don’t feel locked into just these plants — if you like a taller goldenrod or a different zinnia color, go right ahead. The butterflies aren’t the least bit picky about cultivars! And a garden like this is low-maintenance, too. There aren’t too many kinds of plants, so you don’t have to remember a bunch of different plant care tips. Instead, you’ll have lots of time to pull up a chair, lean back in the sun and watch the butterflies enjoying your garden.

Get the look of the butterfly garden below:

• Wide brick edging keeps the garden tidy and offers butterflies the perfect spot to sun themselves on cool, dewy mornings.
• A privacy fence and evergreen shrubs, like ‘Holmstrup’ arborvitae, give delicate butterflies some protection from gusts of wind.
• Mix butterfly-friendly annuals like zinnias into a perennial bed. You can change them out for a different look every year.
• Cut butterfly bush back hard in early spring. By late summer, it’ll be back to full size, ready to delight you and the butterflies!
  

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Meet the plants

Click through the slideshow to learn about the corresponding plants in this beautiful butterfly garden plan.

Looking to bring hummingbirds into your garden? Who wouldn’t be? They’re beautiful to watch, they pollinate your flowers as they collect nectar plus they often eat small insects. Serve up their favorite plants and you’ll soon see them zipping and zooming around.

See how to design your garden to attract more pollinators

This full-sun planting garden plan has five nectar-rich plants the flying little ornaments go crazy over! Click ahead to learn more about each one.

Getting started

Choose an area away from lots of foot traffic—a bed next to the back door may not be the best place for pollen- and nectar-rich plants. This way, pollinators will be able to feed without disturbance.

This border is at the edge of a backyard, where it gets at least 6 hours of sun each day, from morning to afternoon. Butterflies and bees need the warmth of a full sun spot to stay active. This is also the ideal growing condition for the plants these pollinators like.

Beautiful and beneficial

Some blooms in this garden, such as ‘Red Riding Hood’ garden phlox, with good resistance to powdery mildew, provide a buffet for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds alike. Others, like Solstice Purple snapdragon, a nectar source for hummingbirds, have unique characteristics that attract specific pollinators, reducing competition. And even after bees are done visiting ‘Tina’ flowering crabapple, its fruit will draw in songbirds through fall, extending this border’s wildlife interest.

Deadhead the snapdragon, which does best when nights are still cool, to encourage more blooms. Cutting back spent flowers helps keep ‘Black and Blue’ salvia—a magnet for bees and hummingbirds—going longer, as well. ‘Elfin’ creeping thyme’s low carpet of fragrant foliage handles light foot traffic well, which makes it easy to get into the bed to plant or pull weeds.

With low-maintenance growers like these in the yard, you’ll have more time to enjoy all of your garden’s guests.

Get the look of the garden below:

• The picket fence acts as a windbreak, protecting from gusts that could disturb pollinators as they feed or rest. But the 3-in. space between each slat ensures there’s good air circulation, too.
• A south-facing location with morning sun is best for mason bee houses, where the solitary pollinators mate and nest. Make your own by bundling dried, hollow stems about 8 mm. in circumference or purchase kits from online sources, such as Crown Bees™, www.crownbees.com, 425-949-7954.
• Tuck in early springblooming bulbs, such as grape hyacinth and daffodil, for pollinators that become active earliest in the season. The bulbs will get enough sun before other plants start to take off, and, as their foliage fades, it’s hidden by these low growers.

Keep clicking below to learn more about the plants.