Let birds help keep harmful insects under control. They eat soil-dwelling grubs, caterpillars, and moths, the same ones that devastate our gardens.
Some of the best birds for your garden are robins, wrens, swallows, and hummingbirds. Most of these birds also like to feast on seed and fruit-bearing plants, as well as nectar rich flowers.
Avoid spraying pesticides, even “safe” ones. When bugs are killed, there is nothing for birds to eat, so they leave and hunt for food elsewhere. Handpicking and very selective spot spraying is a possibility, or depending upon the situation, tanglefoot, dipel, diatomaceous earth, sulfur, and Actinovate may be used. Our experts at Longfellows can assist you with your particular situation using these “safe” products and techniques, yet maintaining an environment attractive to our winged friends.
Plants in the garden that attract song birds and hummingbirds include:
- seed bearing flowers like zinnias, coneflower, rudbeckia, asters, and cosmos
- tubular flowers such as bee balm, pineapple sage, verbena, and salvia
- fruit bearing shrubs and trees like serviceberry, cherry, plum, viburnum, and barberry
Check our display of hummingbird attracting and wildlife attracting plants at Longfellow’s for more plant ideas.
