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livingcorner · 3 years ago

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8 Easy Steps To A New Shrub and Flower Bed | An Oregon Cottage

If you’ve got a couple hours, you can create a new shrub and flower bed using these 8 low-dig steps! Using an easy layered technique that feeds the soil from the top down, this creates a border that gets more beautiful through the years.

You're reading: 8 Easy Steps To A New Shrub and Flower Bed | An Oregon Cottage

I’m excited to share how easy it is to transform a weedy patch of yard into a neat and tidy new shrub and flower bed in just eight easy steps and less time than you would think.

In fact, Brian and I were able to complete the bed pictured below (roughly a 20 x 8 feet area) in just a couple hours one Saturday! And not only that, we set it up to be low maintenance using soakers and our paper-and-mulch system.

Update: see photos at the end of how great this entire border looked a few years later with nothing more than some pruning and a yearly topping of paper and compost mulch (that feeds the soil, so no need for extra fertilizers).

The bed pictured above was one of the last, wild areas of our yard, located on the side of our house.

It used to hold a cyclone-fence dog run left by the former owners (yeah, it was a beautiful thing to look at, let me tell you). Since our dog doesn’t run away and sleeps inside, we didn’t need it.

Every time we make a new bed or border in our yard, we take the same eight easy steps, no matter if we’re starting with grass or weed-filled ground like this area.

This has worked so well for us that I wanted to share a tutorial so that you can see how easy it can be to make a low maintenance, low dig bed for perennials, shrubs, annuals – or even trees. Basically anything you’d like to grow.

The Plants

First, let’s talk plants. We needed this area to be easy-care, but look good because it’s seen from the guest bathroom window inside and the gravel patio outside.

So we decided to plant mostly shrubs in this corner that will help connect it to the rest of the border around the yard, but not take much care. Here are the shrubs we planted:

3 Arborvitae (these continue the pattern of an arborvitae at each fence post along the entire length)

1 Doublefile Viburnum (rooting from another shrub on our property)

1 Variegated Pieris japonica (continue the border pattern of one in between the arborvitae)

1 pink Escallonia

1 hydrangea (rooting from another hydrangea on our property)

1 perennial foxglove (also seeded from others on the property)

Choosing a mixture of evergreens as a backdrop or throughout the bed to provide winter interest is a good idea. Then fill in with larger shrubs to the back, medium shrubs and larger perennials in the middle and smaller perennials in the front.

TIP: It’s best if you can repeat plants rather than have a mass of singles. For us, the arborvitae and pieris japonica repeated from the long border, and the viburnum and foxglove are found in other areas of the backyard.

8 Easy Steps to a New Shrub and Flower Bed

1. Remove perennial weeds and any large weeds.

The large weeds were easy to pull in this area and there weren’t too many dandelions, so this step went quickly. If it seems overwhelming, use black plastic to kill the weeds about a month before planting and then just rake them away.

We did have to remove a layer of gravel that had been used in the dog run, which Brian is doing above, but obviously, this isn’t typical.

Read more: Bulbs 101 – When & How to Plant Bulbs – Garden Design

2. Add a two to three-inch layer of good garden soil.

If you’ve got any composted manure, mix it in this layer, though it’s optional and we didn’t use it here.

TIP: We’ve successfully used horse manure in building beds as a first layer (which is notoriously full of weed seeds) because it is then covered with more layers.

3. Place the plants, in their pots, where you’d like them to go.

Moving the plants around during this step is much easier than after digging holes, as you might guess.

Biggest Tip: Think about the size of the shrub when fully grown and leave adequate room.

This is the hardest part, I know! It looks so bare – but take it from someone who’s moved too many overgrown plants in her day…leave room for growth.

Perennials I don’t worry so much about – they often need dividing and fooling with anyway, but shrubs are there to stay, so place them where they can grow fully.

4. Once you’ve decided on where the plants go, dig the holes.

Now, instead of digging the whole bed (which in all honesty, we’ve never done), just make the holes for the plants two times bigger than the container and mix in some of the good soil and compost.

This has worked really well for us – especially with shrubs.

TIP: If the plant has roots circling the pot, use your hands, a trowel, or knife (or even a shovel for really root-bound plants) to pull or cut them apart to give the roots a starting chance. Otherwise they may just continue in the root-bound pattern and never grow healthy.

5. Fill in around the plants with original soil mixed with good soil.

Tamp down around the plant to help the roots firm in the soil. Then give each plant a good soaking with water. If the soil around sinks some after watering, add a bit more soil.

TIP: It’s a good idea with new plants to leave a circle of soil around the plant that’s lower than the surrounding soil to act as a catch for water and help it stay around the roots and not run off.

6. Lay a soaker hose or a drip-type system.

This is for those of us without sprinkler systems, but it’s key to healthy plants and low maintenance.

Make sure that the hose is next to all the plants, but it doesn’t need to circle them – only if you have enough hose to spare.

7. Cover the entire area with thick layers of newspaper or overlapping cardboard.

You can go here to read more about our newspaper-and-mulching system to keep weeds down.

Since we weren’t planning on planting anything else in this bed soon, we used cardboard which lasts a bit longer than newspaper.

TIP: Put the paper underneath the soaker hoses. You could switch 6 and 7 and lay the paper first, of course, but I find that the hose helps hold down the paper, though I do have to keep lifting it up.

8. The last step is to cover the paper with a 2 to 3-inch layer of compost.

Cover the hoses if you can, too, to make it look tidier.

Read more: Garden Spade Tools: What Do You Use A Garden Spade For

What kind of mulch? Does it have to be compost?

I like using the stuff labeled “garden compost” at our local yard products center. It’s black (instead of orange like bark dust), and feeds the soil as it breaks down, providing all the nutrition these shrubs will need.

Using this I never needed to fertilize the borders around our house in the 12 years we lived there and they flourished (check out the last garden tour here to see them filled out).

That said, you can use bark, wood chips, pine straw, or whatever you want for the top layer. Just be prepared to fertilize your shrubs once a year.

Before & After New Shrub and Flower Bed

Weedy eyesore area before…

And finished bed just a few hours later:

(Don’t mind the plastic – the grass was so full of dandelions we decided to kill it all and start fresh since the border now looked so good!)

So that’s it! No heavy digging and a few hours of work and our weedy area was gone forever. Is that awesome, or what?

UPDATE:

Here’s more of the border a few years later to show how they plants thrive with this planting method (I did add a few more plants, a-hem):

Easy flower bed 3 years later in summer.

Shrub and flower border 4 years later in March.

What areas are you going to tackle?

This how-to has been updated – it was originally published in July of 2012.

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Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/8-easy-steps-to-a-new-shrub-and-flower-bed-an-oregon-cottage/

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livingcorner · 3 years ago

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How to Attract Birds to Your Yard in 9 Steps | Stauffers

Birds are a must for any backyard. They provide natural insect control, beautiful songs, and an educational experience for children and adults alike. Plus, it can be lots of fun to track just how many different types of birds you can welcome to your yard.

You're reading: How to Attract Birds to Your Yard in 9 Steps | Stauffers

Many homeowners have a backyard bird feeder or even a bird bath. But there is so much more you can do to welcome birds and improve your land overall as a wildlife habitat. Interested in learning how to attract birds to your yard? We have the tips you need to create a backyard birding paradise.

Have a specific question about how to attract birds to your yard? Use these links to skip down through the article and find what you need:

Find a Bird-Friendly Corner of Your Yard

Provide a Variety of Feeders

Buy the Right Food

Add a Water Source

Plant a Bird-Friendly Garden

Provide Plenty of Shelter

Offer Opportunities for Nesting

Learn from Your Birds

Make It Official

1. Find a Bird-Friendly Corner of Your Yard

The first step toward attracting birds to your yard is picking a corner of your yard to focus your efforts. You’ll want to place feeders, bird baths, and other offerings where you can enjoy watching from your home. However, you’ll also need to make sure there is sufficient greenery and cover nearby so that birds feel safe enough to explore. Birds can also be territorial, so you’ll want to space out bird food and shelter options to maximize your yard’s bird traffic.

2. Provide A Variety of Feeders

If you’re interested in learning how to attract birds to your yard, you’ll want to start by buying a few different types of feeders. The feeders you’ll need will depend on the types of birds you’d like to attract:

Tube feeders are best for finches, sparrows, and chickadees

Hopper feeders are enjoyed by finches, jays, sparrows, and cardinals

Suet feeders attract woodpeckers, nuthatches, and starlings

Ground feeders are preferred by cardinals, grosbeaks, and blue jays

Nectar feeders are a necessity for hummingbirds and orioles

Different species of birds also prefer different feeding heights, so experiment with hanging your feeders higher or lower as well. While lower feeders may attract squirrels and other animals, there are plenty of squirrel-proof feeders available to keep your feeders safe for the birds.

3. Buy the Right Bird Food

In learning how to attract birds to your yard, you’ll find that each species has food preferences as well. Just as you might prefer sweet foods over salty, different species of birds have different nutritional needs and seek out foods to fill them.

Read more: Snakes

Dark oil sunflower and suet are great basics that will attract a wide variety of birds. There are also plenty of mixes on the market that are designed to attract a number of species. Other types of food to try include thistle, safflower, nuts and peanut butter, and even mealworms. If you’re not sure what food to buy for your particular feeder, someone at your local home and garden center should be able to help.

4. Add a Water Source

Adding a bird bath or water source is the next step in learning how to attract birds to your yard. When water is available, many species of birds will bathe every day to keep their feathers clean and healthy. Offering shallow bird baths (one to three inches deep) or even building a small pond in your yard will help birds stay clean and hydrated.

Birds listen for moving water, so adding a pump or mister that creates fresh, bubbling water will draw even more feathered friends to your yard. If you live in a cold climate, you may also want to invest in a heater or de-icer to keep your bird bath or pond from freezing . Birds bathe year-round, but often struggle to find water sources in the winter, so having fresh water will make your yard a desirable destination.

5. Plant a Bird-Friendly Garden

Planting a garden with bird-friendly plants is one of the most significant changes you can make when learning how to attract birds to your yard. Native flowers, shrubs, and trees are great choices because they will naturally attract birds that live in your area and strengthen your local ecosystem.

Birds are also drawn to bright colors (especially the color of their own species), an attraction that comes from their breeding instincts. Native species are known for their colorful flowers and berries, so they can do double duty when it comes to attracting birds.

Birds like relatively dense shrubs and trees, so consider this when deciding where to plant your new additions. Different species also like different heights and vantage points, so be sure not only to plant eye level shrubs but also low ground cover, small trees (under 15’), and taller trees (over 15’).

The Best Bird-Friendly Plants

Not sure where to get started with your garden? Check out some of our favorite plants that attract birds.

Shrubs

Plant Name Offering Principal Birds Attracted Glossy Abelia (Abelia grandiflora) Nectar Hummingbirds Barberry (Berberis) Fruit, protection, and nectar Songbirds, sparrows Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) Nectar Hummingbirds Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus) Fruit, protection, and nectar Brown thrashers, cardinals, finches Forsythia Nectar Sparrows, robins, cardinals Daylily (Hemerocallis) Nectar Hummingbirds Hibiscus Nectar Hummingbirds Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) Fruit Bluebirds, brown thrushes, cedar waxwings Honeysuckle (Lonicera) Fruit, nectar Catbirds, robins, wood thrushes Firethorn (Pyracantha) Fruit, nectar, protection Mockingbirds, thrashers, cedar waxwings Rose (Rosa) Nectar Catbirds, cardinals, thrashers, sparrows Spirea Nectar Warblers, wood thrushes, robins European Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus) Fruit, nectar, protection Bluebirds, robins, wood thrushes Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum plicatum) Fruit, nectar, protection Cedar waxwings, robins, finches Tea Viburnum (Viburnum setigerum) Fruit, nectar, protection Cedar waxwings, purple finches

Trees

Read more: What is a Solar Garden? | Pivot Energy

Plant Name Offering Principal Birds Attracted Mimosa (Albizia) Nectar Hummingbirds Serviceberry (Amelanchier) Fruit, nectar Blue jays, cardinals, flickers Birch (Betula) Fruit Goldfinches, warblers Dogwood (Cornus) Fruit, nectar Thrashers, finches, robins Apple & Crabapple (Malus) Nectar Bluebirds, flickers, hummingbirds, finches, and more Oak (Quercus) Nectar, protection Robins, nuthatches, thrushes, grosbeaks

Evergreens & Vines

Plant Name Offering Principal Birds Attracted Azalea Nectar, protection Hummingbirds Trumpet Vine (Campsis Nectar Hummingbirds Clematis Nectar Hummingbirds Blue Holly (Ilex) Fruit, nectar, protection Waxwings, flickers, robins Juniper (Juniperus) Fruit, nectar, protection Bluebirds, cardinals, sparrows Honeysuckle (Lonicera) Fruit, nectar, protection Bluebirds, sparrows, goldfinches Spruce (Picea) Fruit, nectar, protection Finches, grosbeaks, grouses, crossbills White Pine (Pinea) Nectar, protection Blue jays, finches, mourning doves Yew (Taxus) Nectar, protection Finches, robins, grosbeaks Hemlock (Tsuga) Fruit, nectar, protection Robins, warblers, chickadees

6. Provide Plenty of Shelter

In addition to creating shelter with greenery, some birds (like bluebirds, sparrows, and chickadees) like the safety, warmth, and shelter of a bird box or bird house. Install your shelter on a post or tree trunk to protect from ground predators.

Make sure the entrance hole is only as large as the intended species. This prevents larger birds like hawks from getting inside and defeating the purpose of the types of bird shelters you’ve added to your yard.

7. Offer Opportunities for Nesting

Once you’ve learned how to attract birds to your yard, you’ll need to find ways to make them stay. One of the best ways to ensure a constant stream of birds all year long is to encourage birds to build nests in your yard.

In addition to creating a welcoming environment full of bird food and shelter options, bird-friendly plants, and reliable water sources, you can provide birds with nesting materials. Simply fill an empty suet cage or old feeder with pieces of small, organic material and hang it for birds to find. Grass clippings, dried weeds and leaves, and even pet hair are all great materials for nest building. And, since they’re all organic material, they’ll decompose naturally and won’t encourage litter in your yard.

8. Learn from Your Birds

If you’re looking to learn how to attract birds to your yard, look to the birds. Every species, every bird, and every environment is different, so keep an eye on your yard’s birds, when they visit, where they spend their time, and which foods they like best. Then you can adjust your setup over time to maximize your yard’s birding potential.

9. Make it Official

Once your yard is teeming with birds, consider certifying your backyard as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation. To make it official, you’ll need to follow the Certified Wildlife Habitat requirements:

Three different food sources (from feeders or plants)

One clean water source

Two different shelter sources (including natural and manmade)

Two different nesting places (including natural and manmade)

You’ll also need to employ practices from at least two of three sustainable gardening categories as designated by the NWF. For the full requirements and to get your garden certified, visit the National Wildlife Federation’s website . Be sure to get the entire family involved in the certification process so everyone can learn more about gardening, birding, and sustainability.

Get all the supplies you need to build a backyard birding haven from Stauffers of Kissel Hill . From bird seed to native plants to free advice from our experts, we have it all!

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/how-to-attract-birds-to-your-yard-in-9-steps-stauffers/

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