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Small Havens

I envy birders who own a lot of land: Having a vast expanse of plants that lure an abundance of birds to my property is a dream I’ve had for years. Until I win the lottery, though, I’ll have to settle for my 50 x 117-foot plot of ground. However, having a small yard doesn’t mean I don’t attract birds.

Although there are limitations to what can be grown, an undersized lot can still be graced with a variety of plants. It’s not how much land you have, but what you do with it that counts. The trick is knowing which plants to use and how to arrange them.

Because space is at a premium in a small yard, each plant must well serve the birds’ needs. Plants have different attributes for attracting birds, and they can be grouped into categories according to these characteristics. There are the thorny, twiggy, or evergreen ones, which supply shelter and protection from predators, and the nut-, fruit-, seed-, and nectar-bearing plants, which provide nourishment. Multipurpose plants - those that have several bird-attracting features - are therefore invaluable for small properties.

Hollies and junipers, for example, offer nesting sites, year-round cover, and winter food for a variety of birds. The fruits of native honeysuckle and manzanita are eaten, and, when permitted to grow dense, they furnish cover and nesting places as well. Their biggest asset, however, may be their flowers, which entice hummingbirds.

The blooms of phlox, blazing star, and evening primrose likewise produce hummingbird nectar; once the flowers have gone, seeds become available for other birds. Allowed to remain through the winter, many seed-bearing plants supply nesting material in spring.

Whether you use multipurpose plants or not, keep in mind that some are great for birds, but are not suitable for the small yard.

Many trees are not a good fit because they are too large or wide spreading. For instance, the white, Norway, and Colorado spruces, and the ponderosa, Austrian, and white pines all reach heights of 70 feet or more. These conifers also grow at least 20 to 30 feet wide, taking up considerable space.

Deciduous trees are not as much of a problem because other plants can be planted beneath them. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to find room for taller-growing types and those with broad canopies. The hackberry, for example, is a terrific bird tree yet its mature canopy width of about 50 feet may cover a big portion (if not all) of your yard.

Some shrubs, whether deciduous or evergreen, can also be rather expansive. Among these are cherry laurel, chokecherry, American cranberry bush, and the Siebold viburnum, all of which can measure from 15 to 30 feet across. (Fortunately for those of us who don’t have much land, many of these plants, especially evergreen trees and shrubs, are available in smaller forms, often denoted as “dwarf” or “compact.”)

If children play in your yard, you may want to exclude those plants that have thorns or prickly leaves (rose, barberry, firethorn, ocotillo, various hollies, etc.) and ones with poisonous berries, such as pokeweed and bittersweet nightshade. Mulberries are also not good choices for small gardens because they have messy fruits that can stain whatever they come in contact with.

Once you have selected the plants you want for your landscape, you’ll need to arrange them so they produce the best possible bird habitat.

Growing the plants in groups is one way to do this. Shrubs are often scattered here and there about the yard, but a lone bush does not provide enough escape or nesting cover. Clump several shrubs together, however, and you’ll furnish a better environment for birds.

Annuals and perennials should also be grown in clusters. Growing these herbaceous plants together maximizes their effect, presenting a greater lure for hummingbirds and other nectar eaters than they would if they were dispersed about the property. The seeds these plants produce are also easier for birds to find when they are grown in the same area.

Underplanting - placing smaller plants beneath larger ones - is a good way to increase the number and variety of plants in your yard. Underplanting mimics the way plants grow in the wild, making different layers of vegetation available to birds.

Grow some shrubs, ground covers, and flowering plants underneath deciduous trees, and allow vines, such as Virginia creeper, to climb up the trunks. You needn’t limit this idea to trees, however. Flowering annuals and perennials can be put beneath shrubs, and tall herbaceous plants can be underplanted with lower-growing ones.

More space for growing plants can be found around the foundation of the house, garage, or other buildings on your lot. Small trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, and flowering plants can be placed along the walls.

The perimeters of open areas such as the street, driveway, sidewalk, patio, and lawn can be planted with various types of vegetation. For instance, the property edges can be rimmed by a hedge or a hedgerow. Around the patio you can use small to medium-sized shrubs and herbaceous plants, whereas a border of either low-growing shrubs or annual and perennial flowers is appropriate for planting along the driveway or sidewalk.

A fence surrounding your yard presents another opportunity for growing plants. Vines are well suited for use against these structures, some attaching themselves to wooden fences and others winding their way through chain-link types. Shrubs, too, are useful next to fences. Evergreens, in particular, when grown in front of privacy fences, provide birds with extra protection from cold air, gusty winds, and driving rain and snow.

Consider how your garden relates to your neighbors’ properties; you may be able to “borrow” some of their plants. For example, if a neighbor’s hedge abuts your yard, place a mixed border of shrubs and flowers in front of it. Likewise, a woodland understory of shade-loving small trees, shrubs, and ground covers can be created in the shadow of the oak trees next door.

Try some of these ideas for your own undersized lot and you’ll soon find that any yard, no matter how small, can be a bird haven.