Landscaping for Wildlife: Creating a Backyard Habitat 

One of the things that many people now consider when constructing landscape plans for their property is how they can make the area around their home more suitable for wildlife.  Both adults and children enjoy watching birds and wildlife around their homes and there are various ways to attract these animals to your property. 

The most obvious animals that people would want to welcome to their yards are birds.  Bird feeders can provide a year round supply of food, and bird baths can provide much needed water.  Also, putting up nest boxes on your property will provide certain species of birds, such as bluebirds, a place to raise their young right outside your home.  It’s a rewarding feeling when your nest box becomes a successful location for bringing a new generation of birds into the world. 

Of course, there are other things you can do to help birds and a good landscape design can be very important.  Many species of shrubs can serve as useful locations for birds to seek cover.  They may also be chosen for nesting.  Once the foliage drops from the shrubs, it’s wonderful to see an old bird nest or two revealed after being hidden all spring and summer.  Also, certain shrubs can be important berry producers that birds will rely on heavily as a food source.  The same goes for trees, such as fruit trees or pine trees.  Birds such as orioles and mockingbirds relish small fruits produced on trees and shrubs and birds such as chickadees feed on the seeds within pine cones.

Most people also enjoy seeing butterflies in their yard.  There are many flowering shrubs and plants that will be eagerly visited by local butterflies.  Butterfly bush, or Buddleia, is a favorite shrub for attracting large numbers of butterflies. The shrub produces a long head of small flowers clustered together.  When you cut off the dead flowers the butterfly bush will continue producing flowers for most of the summer.  Best of all, the bush grows like a weed and is fairly tolerable of most soil types, even dry and poor soils.

Planting native shrubs and trees can also be important to butterflies.  Many species have specific host plants that they feed on as caterpillars or use for pupating.  Ornamental and exotic trees and shrubs will often be passed up by these soon-to-be butterflies that instead will seek out the plant species they are accustomed to.

Lastly, frogs and fish can also become your wild neighbors with the creation of a small pond.  These ponds also provide an important water source for birds and other animals.  When creating a pond it’s important to include a filter in your plans.  The filter will keep the stagnate water clean which is extremely important to the wildlife that will be using it. 

There is so much you can do to create a wonderful haven for wildlife right outside your home.  It will be extremely rewarding to watch your wild neighbors utilize and rely on your landscape designs for their very own survival.  It’s one of the best parts of landscaping for wildlife.