A garden is made more serene and beautiful by the presence of birds. They add theatre, movement and song to an otherwise quiet environment around your home. Birds will contribute a lot to the ecosystem of your garden - helping to control insect populations and even pollinating certain plants. There are several ways to attract birds to your garden, naturally, just by planting indigenous shrubs and trees.
These include seed-eaters, insectivores and nectar-feeding species. There is no need to buy birdseed or create your own nectar when you have the right plants in your yard. IWESCO offers routine gardening services and maintenance, so we can help keep your property in shape for the avian visitors. Here are some tips for creating a garden that attracts birds.
How to invite birds into your garden
1. Buy a birdbath - The first step to attracting birds into your property is to add water. This can either be a small water feature that recycles the same liquid, a mini pond or a simple birdbath. Most bird species love a bath on a hot afternoon so the presence of water will be a sure way to invite them down from the sky and stop for a drink and a wash. Consider using a combination of water features as some birds prefer a birdbath while others like a fountain.
2. Keep a patch of bare soil or sand - Some species of birds love a dust bath, such as waxbills. Keep a small patch of garden bare so the birds can access the soil or sand. Just make sure that the exposed ground is not hard - it needs to be soft enough for the birds to roll around and kick up some dust.
3. Rocks and logs work a charm - Besides planting indigenous trees and bushes, horizontal logs and driftwood in your flower beds can also be used to create perches for birds. The same goes for rocks; some species love to sit atop big stones and soak up the radiating heat. Rocks and logs will also encourage birds down from trees and into better view.
4. Install nesting logs - Nesting logs can be purchased from most hardware and garden stores. They look like sections of a palm tree and have a round hole drilled into one side. Birds that nest in holes in trees, such as barbets and woodpeckers, will use the drilled hole as a starting point for their own nests. These nesting logs can be attached to trees with wire and are easy to install.
5. Reduce the size of your lawn - Not only does the lawn require a lot of water and need regular mowing, but it also contributes very little to biodiversity. No birds are attracted to lawns; only insects. And while some birds are attracted by the presence of insects, don’t forget that bugs like indigenous plants too. So save yourself some money and time by cutting the size of your lawn down and replacing it with new flower beds or stone patches.
6. Plant a variety of local plants - Indigenous plants are absolutely essential if you are going to attract local birds. Plant an array of species, including nectar-producing plants, indigenous grasses, wild fruit trees and berry bushes. The wider variety of foods that you plant, the more species of birds you will attract.
These simple tips will help you to boost the vibrance of your garden with the presence of birds. They will also allow you to create a natural garden filled with local plants that require less water than foreign species. For more information about your yard, feel free to contact us and enquire about our professional garden maintenance services.
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IWESCO offers specialised cleaning and waste control services to industrial and commercial customers in South Africa. These services are aimed at minimising our customers’ impact on the environment. Our services also include pest control, garden maintenance, fogging and disinfecting. Our staff are highly trained to offer the most professional services. IWESCO is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.
We are a one-stop shop for all your contract cleaning and waste control needs and have a national footprint. Our head office is located in Tshwane but we can provide services to any industrial and commercial client in the major metropolitan areas around South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Mbombela and more.