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  • From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@hort.net>
  • To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Shrubs for birds
  • Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2004 21:49:33 -0400

If you're looking for needled species, Tsuga (hemlock) or Taxus (yew)
will grow in your climate and in the light conditions you have. Both
provide shelter for birds for nesting and winter roosting although
probably not much in the feeding line. I really don't know if birds
eat the berries yew produce and, since I sheer my hemlocks as a
hedge, they've never produced any cones/fruit. But needled
evergreens are very valuable to birds in winter as roosting sites; I
have cardinals nesting in my large yews annually. If you have deer,
yew, however is not a good choice; it's deer candy.

Picea generally want full sun, but Dirr says P. omorika prefers some
shade, so that might be of interest - gets very large.

Birds adore my huge Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Nana' (hate to
see that one not 'Nana' as mine are over 20' tall now after 20 odd
years). On a winter eve., those shrubs (trees?) sound like bird
condos as everybody sorts themselves out for a night's roosting.
They will take very light shade, but really prefer as much sun as you
can give them; they will lose branches if too heavily shaded, which
is true of most needled evergreens. If your several hours of direct
sun are at least 4 hours, Chamaecyparis ought to grow pretty well for
you if you can give them open sky above; they will not do well under
overhanging branches from larger trees.

Buxus would be at the northern end of their range for you tho' I
think there are a few that have been developed to be more cold hardy.
They are also good for bird shelter once they get some size and grow
in considerable shade.

Ilex crenata is pretty fast growing and dense if shade is not too
intense; very amenable to pruning or shearing - as large plants they
also provide winter shelter. Birds won't use any of these until they
get some size on them as they need to be far enough off the ground to
avoid predators who don't climb.

Many of the evergreen Ilex species do well in light to medium shade -
again, they will be more open than if grown in full sun - but they do
provide good cover for birds and when all else fails, birds eat the
berries (and deposit them all over the map). There are numerous
clones of several species on the market; likely what is most readily
available at your local nursery would be what would do best in your
location.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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----------
> From: Melanie <melaniev@optonline.net>

In the past week I've added about 30 shrubs to my garden in an
attempt to give the local birds more food and shelter. Filtered light
to several hours of direct sunlight with ample water is the growing
condition. Our soil is naturally acidic and I make my own mulch with
a mixture of oak and maple leaves.

So far I've added lots of Viburnums, Mahonia, Azaleas, Rhododenrons
and Pieris Japonica. Would like some recommendations on evergreens
that would shelter the birds, grow in part shade conditions and
possible feed them too.





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