Having a robust and visually attractive garden is a great way to make your lawn the center of attention. But there are some things you can do to make your place even more attractive, and more helpful for the environment as well: by adding flowers and other items that attract animals. Bees in particular are an essential part of the world’s ecosystem, but unfortunately they aren’t doing so well right now, so adding plants that the little buzzing workhorses flock to is a nice way of saying thank you, and it might help attract other, more traditionally wanted animal guests. We at the Parke Company are committed to making the world a better place, which is why we have compiled a list of items you can add to your landscape to make it more friendly to animals.
How to Attract Birds to Your Lawn
Making a plan
Like most landscaping plans, the first thing you want to do is figure out just what kind of animals you want to attract. As mentioned above, bees are always a great addition, considering how important to the world pollinating plants and crops is, but it is understandable if you are concerned about the danger they might present, especially if you have small children. That being said, bees are attracted to some traditional summer plants that also add a dash of color to your garden, like sunflowers and black-eyed Susans, which we at the Parke Company are happy to plant for you.
For a more friendly species of insect that adds its own brand of color, you might look at planting flowers that are especially attractive to butterflies, like coneflowers or lavender, which also add a sweet smell to the air.
Bird is the word
Of course, the animal kingdom is a lot larger than just insects. There are some things you can do to attract birds, but the planning for them depends on where you want the focus to be. A lot of families who have a front porch will hang bird feeders from them, allowing the family to see the birds chirping and eating as they casually sit and relax. If your garden is in the backyard, a nice bird bath might be better suited, but make sure you remember to change the water regularly, or it will get stale and possibly scummy. Birds are also attracted to bushes, so if you haven’t added any to your landscape, you might want to think about adding elderberry or buttonbush.
If you’re feeling like the whole yard needs a more animal-friendly makeover, then what about trees? Oak trees in particular make wonderful homes for a variety of species, including birds, bats, and squirrels.
We are all in this together. Helping the animals by providing them with a place to sleep and something to eat is a noble goal, one that we at the Parke Company are happy to help with, and if it happens that we make your yard look amazing in the process, then that is kind of the best of both worlds, right?