Let’s face it – winter landscapes in New Hampshire can be pretty dull. Not much to look at. You can, however, do some good and make your yard interesting at the same time by inviting over some hungry friends. I’m talking about birds, of course.
Snow cover and frigid temperatures like we have had this winter are a hardship on our feathered friends. With a little planning and around $100 worth of seed, make your yard a flurry of activity and interest throughout the long winter months.
Give them the food they like. When it comes to birdseed, get the good stuff. Inexpensive bird seed has a lot of fillers in it. The best wild bird seed has a blend of millet, corn and peanuts and of course sunflower seeds. Millet and corn are mostly for ground-feeders like doves and juncos. Blue Jays and Cardinals are fond of peanuts. Sunflower seeds appeal to all birds, so the seed blend should have a generous supply of both black oil and striped sunflower seeds.
You may also set out separate feeders containing thistle seed for finches and suet cakes for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees. If you want bluebirds in your yard, mix in some dried mealworms.
What about squirrels? Some people feed squirrels; others don’t want them in their yard at all. Unfortunately, squirrels come with the territory when you are feeding the birds. If you don’t want them destroying your feeders, get a squirrel-proof feeder. Always sprinkle some seed on the ground so they won’t have to climb up to get it. The ground feeding birds will like that too!
Landscaping is for the birds, too. The right kind of landscaping can provide food, shelter and protection for wild birds. If you are someone who loves to feed the birds, we can create a landscaping plan that incorporates the best landscape plants for birds.
Ornamental trees like Crabapple, Hawthorne and Birch provide overhead protection from hawks and other predators. They also love to feast on the berries and seeds.
Ornamental shrubs like Winterberry Holly, Cranberry Viburnum and Serviceberry placed nearby the feeder can provides a great place for smaller birds to perch as they wait to use the feeder. These shrubs also have berries that last well into the winter and will attract birds to your feeder.
Evergreen trees provide shelter from frigid winds, protection from predators, as well as nesting places when spring comes. Good choices for evergreens are Blue Spruce and Juniper with their thick needles and dense branching; Hemlock has open, drooping branches that shed snow well and will perform well in the shade.
If you think your yard could be a little livelier in the winter, it’s not too late to give Groundhog Landscaping a call to see how we can create an environment that our feathered friends will enjoy for many years to come!