Feeding the birds can be rewarding, but it can also be expensive. Rather than spending money on birdseed, why not grow the plants that provide food for birds? Sounds easy enough but there are a few things to consider when planning out a bird garden.  Location is a HUGE thing when it comes to bird food gardens.  Plants need with full sun, partial sun or shade so choose plants based on what you can provide them ~ a shade loving plant will NOT make it in full sun.  Although the best bird garden should contain full or part sun loving blooms.

You might think you don’t have enough room for a bird garden but you do not need a large garden to feed birds, one container on your patio can support birdseed plants. Larger gardens can feed larger flocks and may even yield enough seeds so some can be saved for winter bird feeding.

A diverse garden will attract more birds that prefer different foods so if you have the room, choose plants with different bloom and seeding times.  Try to include  early and late varieties, to extend the growing season and feed birds for as long as possible.

Caring for your plants is simple, follow the directions for the care of your plants like water and sun/shade but think twice before adding just any ol’ fertilizer to them.  Make sure you look for organic fertilizers that nourish the plants in a birdseed garden, such as compost or seasoned manure. A thick layer of mulch can also protect birdseed plants. Equally, instead of applying chemical pesticides to control bugs, let the hungry birds munch on those insects for a delicious protein snack. 

The most popular seed-bearing flowers that attract finches, buntings, sparrows, quail, and doves include: 

• Aster
• Black-eyed Susan
• Blanket flower
• Coneflower (pictured in main image)
• Coreopsis
• Cosmos
• Globe thistle
• Goldenrod
• Liatris
• Marigold
• Sunflower
• Zinnia