RICHMOND COUNTY — You’re probably familiar with that old saying that if something is “for the birds,” whatever it is, it’s not very good. I’m not denigrating gardening when I say it’s “for the birds” though. I actually mean it literally. We should all be gardening for the birds!
If, like me, you dutifully fill your birdfeeders weekly or biweekly, you know how expensive that can be, and those costs add up over time! What if, instead of spending that money on bird seed, it was invested in plants which would provide food for birds throughout the year, year after year? By creating a more natural food source for birds with plants that feed them, both habitat and attractive landscaping can be created that everyone will enjoy.
There are so many plants that can go into our gardens that provide food for birds, and fall is the best time to plant trees and shrubs. Planting in the fall allows woody plants to put their energy into growing a strong root system, without the pressure to support a leafy canopy that is present in spring and summer. A tree or shrub properly planted in the fall is much less likely to suffer from drought stress during the summer, and creates a stronger more sturdy specimen through the life of the plant. Here are some trees and shrubs you could consider planting this fall which will feed the birds and provide valuable habitat throughout next year and into the future.
Winterberry is a native, deciduous (meaning it drops its leaves during the winter) holly known for its striking, abundant red berries which are both ornamental and food for birds and small mammals. Since plants have either female (the plants with the berries) or male flowers (needed to pollinate the female flowers, which then produce berries), both are needed in the landscape in order to have the attractive red berries. There are commercially available selections that are even more showy, as well as dwarf varieties.
Serviceberry is a small tree in the rose family, with beautiful early spring flowers loved by pollinators, and later in the summer small fruits that are loved by birds. Typically multi-stem, it is an attractive addition to the landscape and can fit into a smaller yard. It is not picky about soil type and can handle some shade.
Viburnum is a large shrub with several native species as well as non-native. Native species include Mapleleaf viburnum and arrow-wood viburnum. The native species tend to sucker (spread by roots), creating open thickets. All viburnums have showy white flower clusters in spring, with fruit that is attractive to wildlife in late summer and fall. They may be deciduous or evergreen, depending on the species.
Wax myrtle, also known as bayberry, is a native evergreen shrub, adaptable to broad growing conditions, tolerant of both wet feet and drought, sun and shade. It has male and female plants, and both are needed to have good berry production.
Beautyberry is a deciduous native shrub of medium height with striking purple berries that circle along the branch. The pale lavender spring blooms are visited by hummingbirds. It is well adapted to pruning and can be pruned annually in early spring to maintain size, and will flower and fruit more prolifically if pruned. It will send out seedlings which are easily removed or transplanted to a different area. There are non-native species, so be sure to seek out Callicarpa americana, which is native.
Juniper is a broad group of trees, shrubs, and ground covers with evergreen, needle-like leaves. There’s a juniper in every size and shape, from Emerald Giants (the name says it all), Pencil Point juniper (narrow and columnar), and the groundcover such as dwarf Japanese garden juniper. Colors of junipers range from dark green, blue green, gold and chartreuse. Most are non-native, however red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is native to our region. Known for the insect resistant wood often used for closet linings, chests, and fence posts, the foliage, especially with the decorative blue berries, is often used for Christmas decorations. Red cedar “berries” (really a type of cone), have staying power and are often still on the trees well into winter and even spring, and are well known as a food source for birds, especially flocks of migrating robins and cedar wax wings.
Trees and shrubs are important sources of both food and habitat for birds and other wild creatures. There are also many perennials, such as black eyed Susans and purple coneflower, to name just two, that are valuable sources of food for birds such as goldfinch. The North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (found online) is a great source of information for just about any plant you want to add to your garden or landscape, with detailed size, growing requirements, pest and disease issues, and much more information, about each plant.
If you’d like more information about adding wildlife habitat and food sources to your garden or landscape, visit NC Cooperative Extension, Richmond County Center at 123 Caroline Street, Rockingham, visit our website, Richmond.ces.ncsu.edu, and follow us on Facebook.